In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where precision and mental fortitude reign supreme, a fresh chapter in the rivalry between teenage sensation Luke Littler and seasoned veteran Michael van Gerwen has emerged. As the 2025 Premier League Darts season barrels toward its next electrifying showdown in Berlin, Littler has pulled back the curtain on what he describes as Van Gerwen’s calculated attempts to unsettle him backstage. The accusation, delivered with a mix of youthful bravado and sharp insight, sheds light on the psychological warfare that unfolds before the players even step up to the oche.
Littler, the reigning world champion at just 18 years old, is no stranger to the spotlight. His meteoric rise has captivated fans and rattled opponents since he burst onto the scene, and his clashes with Van Gerwen—a three-time world champion and one of the sport’s most decorated figures—have become must-watch spectacles. Their latest encounter looms large as Night Nine of the Premier League approaches, with Littler set to face Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals and Van Gerwen squaring off against Gerwyn Price. Should both triumph, a semi-final showdown could reignite their simmering feud, adding yet another layer of intrigue to an already gripping season.
The crux of Littler’s claim revolves around a pre-match ritual that has become a battleground of its own. Before every tournament, players gather in the practice room to throw darts at a board, aiming to land closest to the bullseye—a simple exercise to determine who takes the first throw in the match. It’s here, amid the casual banter and warm-up tosses, that Littler says Van Gerwen employs his mind games. “Before every tournament, before we go on stage, we throw for nearest bull to see who goes first,” Littler explained during a recent podcast appearance. “Every time I’ll go over to Michael van Gerwen, and he’ll try to get in my head about hitting the bullseye first—but I always get it before he does!” The teenager’s tone carried a hint of amusement, as if he relishes outmaneuvering the Dutch maestro at his own game.
This isn’t the first time the two have traded barbs or showcased their competitive edge. Their rivalry has been brewing since Littler stunned Van Gerwen in last year’s World Darts Championship final, clinching his first world title and cementing his status as a prodigy. The victory was a statement, one that tilted their head-to-head record decidedly in Littler’s favor—he’s now won seven of their last ten meetings. Yet Van Gerwen, a six-time Premier League champion, remains a formidable adversary, his experience and resilience making him a constant threat. Their most recent Premier League clash, just two weeks ago in Cardiff, saw Littler triumph 6-4 in the Night Seven final, punctuated by a dazzling nine-darter that left the crowd roaring and Van Gerwen, by Littler’s account, less than thrilled. “That’s Michael for you,” Littler quipped with a laugh when asked about the Dutchman’s reaction to the perfect leg.
Beyond the bullseye battles, Littler’s comments offer a glimpse into the camaraderie and tension that coexist among darts’ elite. He described the practice room dynamic as a blend of friendly chatter and subtle jabs, a space where players like Van Gerwen and world number one Luke Humphries trade “banter to try and get into each other’s heads.” For Littler, who travels to tournaments alongside Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall under the same management, these interactions are part of the game—a mental warm-up as crucial as any physical one. Yet his ability to stay unfazed, even as Van Gerwen attempts to rattle him, speaks to the confidence that has propelled him to the top of the Premier League standings with 28 points and four nightly wins.
As Berlin beckons, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Littler’s lead in the table is commanding, but Van Gerwen’s pedigree ensures he’s never out of the fight. The Dutchman’s withdrawal from a recent event due to a shoulder injury only adds uncertainty to his form, while Littler’s relentless consistency—he thrashed Stephen Bunting 6-0 and bested Rob Cross en route to his latest nightly win—makes him the man to beat. Whether Van Gerwen’s backstage tactics succeed in throwing Littler off his game remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this rivalry is as much a test of nerve as it is of skill. For fans, it’s a tantalizing prospect—two titans, one dartboard, and a psychological duel that’s just heating up.
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