Luke Littler has confirmed he still hasn’t spoken to Gian van Veen since their incident in Manchester, but insists he has no regrets. “I don’t regret anything. I had my opinion, he’s got his opinion – we’re all entitled to it,” Littler said after claiming the Night 12 title at the Premier League Darts in Liverpool. “I think we’ve both moved on on stage. Off stage, we haven’t spoken, but I’m sure we will.” The teenage sensation added that if they need to settle it, they’ll do it “on the board.”
Littler battled back convincingly in a roaring Liverpool arena where the crowd was far from on his side. Reflecting on the hostile atmosphere, he compared it to Rotterdam, which he described as “far worse than tonight.” He said: “If it gets worse than that, then something’s up. But like I said, Rotterdam was far worse than tonight. I even proved to people last week that I can win games under those circumstances, and I’ve done it again.”
The final saw Littler face Premier League table-topper Jonny Clayton, a chance for revenge after last week’s defeat. “After he beat me last week, it’s good to get that final win over him,” said the 19-year-old. “But yeah, I’m going to be chasing him now. I don’t really want to be—I want to be at the top cruising. But I want to be number one, so I’m going to go chasing.” Littler described the final as a “must-win” to prevent Clayton from running away with the league, and he now closes the gap with three or four weeks still to play.
Littler laid the foundation for his triumph in the semi-final against Michael van Gerwen, calling that win “very important.” He admitted: “I don’t know what Michael was on, but I knew I had to let it go. A 43 and a 59 to start the leg wasn’t the best, but I battled back and got the win.” Despite the victory, Littler remains critical of his own game: “Looking at previous games over the last year or two, it’s not the best I know I can do. But a win’s a win, and I’ll take this one.”
Beyond the oche, Littler credited his girlfriend Faith as “massive” for his performances, saying she helps him switch off into family mode. He also revealed he has invested in a racehorse alongside Stephen Bunting, named “Bunting Mental,” and hopes to name the next one himself. Looking ahead, Littler’s main goal is clear: “I want to finish first—that’s my main goal. If my game is there, I can jump above Jonny.”
