The electric atmosphere of the Premier League Darts at Leeds’ First Direct Arena took a fiery turn on Night 14, as teenage sensation Luke Littler faced a chorus of boos from the crowd. The 18-year-old world champion, known for his meteoric rise and unflappable demeanor, didn’t just absorb the jeers—he embraced them, retaliating with playful gestures that stole the show. As a proud Manchester United fan in a city fiercely loyal to Leeds United, Littler’s cheeky response to the hostile reception sparked buzz across the darts world, proving once again why he’s a polarizing yet magnetic figure in the sport.
Littler, dubbed ‘The Nuke’ for his explosive talent, walked onto the stage to face close friend Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, fully expecting a frosty welcome. Leeds fans, still buzzing from their football club’s recent Championship triumph, wasted no time voicing their disdain for the Warrington-born star’s Red Devils allegiance. The boos intensified as Littler, unfazed, strode to the oche, but it was his reaction that turned heads. After nailing a crucial double 10 to level the match at 4-4, he turned to the crowd and mimicked a crybaby gesture, a taunt reminiscent of football stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. “I will always give it back to them,” Littler declared post-match, underscoring his resolve to match the crowd’s energy with his own brand of showmanship. He doubled down, pulling an exaggerated sad face, which drew a mix of laughter and louder jeers from the 11,000-strong audience.
The match itself was a thriller. Aspinall, desperate for points to secure a play-off spot, surged to a 4-3 lead with stunning checkouts of 164 and 112. But Littler’s composure shone through. Despite missing chances to close out earlier, Aspinall faltered, missing nine darts at doubles, handing Littler a 6-4 victory. “It depends on how the fans react,” Littler said of his crowd interactions, reflecting his knack for thriving under pressure. His antics weren’t without a hiccup—later, after fluffing a leg, he turned the crybaby gesture on himself in a moment of self-deprecating humor, showing a maturity beyond his years.
Littler’s night wasn’t all triumph, however. In the final, he faced Leeds’ own Luke Humphries, the world No. 1 and a fervent Leeds United supporter, who donned a special Leeds-themed shirt and debuted a new walk-on song, Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘I Predict a Riot.’ Backed by a roaring home crowd, Humphries outlasted Littler 6-5 in a tightly contested final. “It is extra special to win in Leeds, I feel at home here,” Humphries said, acknowledging the boost from the partisan support. Despite the loss, Littler’s performance solidified his position atop the Premier League table with 38 points, already assured of a play-off spot at London’s O2 Arena on May 29.
This wasn’t Littler’s first brush with hostile crowds. His Manchester United fandom has made him a target in rival cities like Liverpool, where he famously taunted fans with a 2-0 gesture referencing Everton’s derby win. He’s also faced jeers in Germany, prompting him to skip the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen. “Being the world champion, there is always a target on my back,” Littler noted, embracing his role as darts’ pantomime villain. His confidence is backed by a stellar season, including a record-breaking fifth nightly win in Birmingham and a debut World Championship title in January 2025.
Littler’s Leeds performance highlighted his growing stature. “Last year I secured top spot with quite a few weeks left. Right now, I have not secured it mathematically,” he said, signaling his hunger to clinch the league phase outright. As he prepares for the World Cup of Darts alongside Humphries, representing England in Frankfurt, Littler’s ability to channel crowd hostility into fuel for his game sets him apart. Whether silencing detractors with a dart or a gesture, Littler is rewriting the script for darts’ next generation, one cheeky taunt at a time.
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