Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation known as “The Nuke,” has faced a challenging year in Germany, marked by hostile crowd reactions that have left him contemplating a boycott of tournaments in the country until October. The reigning PDC World Champion, who captured the title in January 2025 at just 17 years and 347 days old, has been a lightning rod for German fans’ boos, particularly during his recent outings. His frustration peaked after a semi-final defeat at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, where he was outplayed by Dutch rising star Gian van Veen in a 7-4 loss. The crowd’s relentless jeering prompted Littler to take to social media, posting from the backseat of a car: “Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway. Next one in Germany for me is Dortmund [in October] and I am glad to say that.” This now-deleted post hinted at his intent to skip several upcoming events in Germany, sparking widespread discussion in the darts community.
Littler’s troubles in Germany began earlier in 2025. During a Premier League Darts night in Berlin, he faced boos from the crowd, contributing to a lackluster 6-2 quarter-final loss to Chris Dobey. Reflecting on the experience, Littler admitted, “I had a little headloss moment, as some of us players do. I just don’t get it, and I can’t explain it. Obviously, you do your walk-on, but then as soon as I got on stage, I started getting booed.” He recalled a similar incident in Hildesheim the previous year against Peter Wright, where the crowd’s hostility coincided with a loss. “I was flying, and then they started booing me, and I lost. Obviously, the Germans mustn’t like us English,” he remarked, suggesting a perceived bias against English players.
The Munich setback was particularly stinging. Littler had shown promise, defeating Joe Cullen and Peter Wright to reach the semi-finals, but Van Veen’s commanding 110.81 average overwhelmed Littler’s 95.78. The crowd at Kulturehalle Zenith cheered Van Veen’s comeback, further souring Littler’s experience. “I had a little headloss moment,” he said afterward, acknowledging the emotional toll. His frustration led to speculation that he might skip key events like the European Darts Grand Prix, the European Darts Open, the Baltic Sea Darts Open, and multiple Players Championship events, with his next German appearance planned for the European Championship in Dortmund.
Fellow darts star and world number one Luke Humphries, who partnered Littler at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt in June, also commented on the hostile atmosphere. England’s 8-4 loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko was marred by boos, leaving Littler visibly shaken. “It was gutting to see so many English fans happy to see us lose,” Humphries said. “The Germans would never do that to their players. It was incredibly tough, especially for Luke. I could tell by his face he didn’t enjoy it.” Humphries noted that while he relished the challenge, Littler’s youth made the hostility harder to bear. Belgian darts legend Erik Clarys, commentating on the World Cup, called the crowd’s behavior “absolutely out of order,” warning that it could deter Littler from returning to Germany. “He’s still so young. Everywhere else, he’s celebrated—but here, he’s booed from start to finish,” Clarys said, urging the PDC to address the issue.
Despite his earlier comments, Littler has since confirmed his participation in the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim from October 17-19, signaling an end to his boycott. This event, with a £175,000 prize fund, will see him compete alongside Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Stephen Bunting. His decision to return suggests resilience, but the darts world remains divided. Some, like Dutch player Damian Vlottes, criticized Littler’s reaction as “childish,” arguing that handling defeat is part of the game. “He’s a major champion at 18. The PDC will want a word with him,” Vlottes said. Others, like Vincent Van der Voort, were more sympathetic, noting, “He’s only eighteen. No dart player handles losing well.”
Littler’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. Beyond his World Championship triumph, he won the UK Open, World Matchplay, Australian Darts Masters, and New Zealand Darts Masters, and set a record with six nightly wins in the Premier League. However, losses to top players like Humphries in the Premier League final and the hostile German crowds have tested his mettle. As he prepares for Hildesheim, Littler aims to silence his critics—both on and off the oche. His return to Germany will be a chance to prove his mental toughness and reclaim his dominance, with the darts world watching to see if “The Nuke” can turn boos into cheers.
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