In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where precision meets passion, 18-year-old Luke Littler, nicknamed “The Nuke,” has faced more than just opponents at the oche. During a recent Premier League Darts event in Berlin, the young Englishman encountered a hostile crowd whose jeers left him rattled and reflective. “I had a little headloss moment, as some of us players do,” Littler admitted, his frustration palpable after a surprising 6-2 quarterfinal defeat to Chris Dobey. The experience prompted a candid observation: “Obviously, the Germans mustn’t like us English.” For Littler, the reigning PDC World Champion and darts’ brightest prodigy, the incident was a stark reminder of the challenges that come with global stardom.
The Berlin crowd’s animosity was immediate and unrelenting. Littler, who navigated his walk-on without issue, was stunned when boos erupted as soon as he stepped onto the stage. “As soon as I got on stage, I started getting booed,” he recalled, describing the jarring shift from anticipation to adversity. The heckling seemed to throw him off his rhythm, contributing to his rare early exit. It wasn’t the first time he’d faced such a reception in Germany—last year in Hildesheim, during a European Tour match against Peter Wright, a similar crowd reaction coincided with a loss. “I was flying, and then they started booing me, and I lost,” he said, noting how the noise persisted even after he took a 1-0 lead. The memory lingered, and Berlin felt like a repeat performance, with the crowd’s disdain amplifying as Dobey surged to a 5-1 advantage.
Littler’s not alone in facing Germany’s vocal fans. He pointed out that fellow Englishman Luke Humphries, the world No. 1, often endures similar treatment. “Me and Luke Humphries, we get it quite a lot,” he said, suggesting a pattern that he attributes to national rivalry. The sentiment was echoed by Nathan Aspinall, who, after the International Darts Open in Riesa, expressed bafflement at the crowd’s behavior. “I don’t understand why players were being jeered so relentlessly,” Aspinall remarked, highlighting a broader issue in the sport’s European stops. For Littler, though, the booing feels personal, a targeted challenge to his English identity. “It’s something we’ve all got to deal with,” he acknowledged, displaying a maturity that belies his age.
Despite the setback, Littler’s star continues to rise. Back home in Manchester for Night 10 of the Premier League, he was in his element, cheered by a supportive crowd. He delivered a thrilling quarterfinal win over Gerwyn Price, averaging 104.7 and hitting seven 180s, before falling 6-4 to Humphries in the semifinals. “I’m very happy with this afternoon’s performance,” he said, his confidence unshaken. Sitting five points clear atop the Premier League table, Littler’s dominance is undeniable. At 17, he became the youngest PDC World Champion in January 2025, defeating Michael van Gerwen in a historic final. His resume boasts four other major titles—the 2024 Premier League, Grand Slam, World Series Finals, and 2025 UK Open—cementing his place among darts’ elite.
The Berlin incident, however, underscores the pressures of Littler’s rapid ascent. Dubbed “Littlermania” for sparking a surge in darts’ popularity, his journey from a Warrington pub to global stages hasn’t been without turbulence. Boos aren’t new—he’s faced them in Liverpool, where his Manchester United fandom draws playful jeers, and in Newcastle before a match against Stephen Bunting. Yet Germany’s intensity feels different, a cultural clash he’s still learning to navigate. “Certain people in the crowd aim it at certain players,” he noted, accepting it as part of the game while hinting at its emotional toll.
As Littler looks ahead, his focus remains on growth. He’s skipped recent European Tour events to manage his workload, prioritizing practice and balance. “I’d probably be happy with a few ProTour wins, a few Euro Tours,” he said, grounded despite his accolades. The Berlin boos, while stinging, are a footnote in a career defined by resilience. With the Premier League playoffs looming and a chance to set a record for weekly wins, Littler’s story is one of defiance against the noise—literal and figurative. Whether it’s a German crowd or a missed double 12, he’s learning to tune it out, one dart at a time.