The atmosphere at the Premier League Darts final was anything but ordinary, transforming from the usual celebratory buzz into a chaotic scene that drew sharp criticism and even forced a referee to intervene. Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler found himself embroiled in the midst of what many dubbed the “worst crowd in history,” as sections of the audience repeatedly whistled and jeered, seemingly attempting to disrupt the players.
This wasn’t an isolated incident; Littler has faced hostile crowds throughout his meteoric rise, particularly in venues like Leeds and Liverpool, where his allegiance to Manchester United has often been met with boos. He had even hinted at the possibility of skipping events in Germany due to similar negative receptions earlier in the season.
The final in question, against his frequent rival and reigning Premier League and world champion Luke Humphries, was a gripping affair, ultimately won 6-5 by Littler. However, the thrilling conclusion was overshadowed by the disruptive crowd behavior, which appeared to affect both competitors. Whistling became a persistent problem, particularly when players were at the oche, impacting their composure and leading to missed checkouts.
At one critical juncture, match referee Kirk Bevins was compelled to take the extraordinary step of addressing the unruly fans directly over the microphone. He sternly implored them to “Stop whistling, thank you.” Yet, even this direct intervention proved ineffective, as the noise continued unabated. This prompted legendary commentator Wayne Mardle to question why individuals causing such disruption weren’t being ejected from the arena, while Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davies passionately stated that the fans “actively contributed” to players “not delivering their absolute best by whistling.”
Littler himself expressed his frustration with the unusual atmosphere, particularly after Bevins’s attempt to quieten the crowd. He felt the referee’s intervention, though well-intentioned, inadvertently exacerbated the situation for him. “Yeah, obviously, there was a few in particular that were doing it when Luke [Humphries] was throwing,” Littler explained after his victory. “Kirk [Bevins, match referee] told them to be quiet and it got even worse, and then I missed doubles and Luke breaks at 5-4. I’m just like, ‘Kirk, you’ve made it worse for me there, I’m 5-4 down.’ But I broke back and held my throw very strongly again.”1
Reflecting on the entire ordeal, Littler conceded that while officials had to intervene at some point, the specific outcome was detrimental to his play. “If it’s the same (outcome) as what it was when Kirk said it, then obviously just leave it. Obviously, they’ve got to step in at some point and say something. But yeah, that was pretty bad, but I got the win.”2
This incident wasn’t the first time the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) has had to address crowd behavior. Earlier in the Premier League season, in Glasgow, similar whistling and jeering marred a night where Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries were also visibly affected. In fact, a pint was even thrown at Nathan Aspinall during his walk-on in Brighton, an incident Littler himself recounted as “crazy.”
The PDC has consistently reiterated its stance against disruptive behavior. Following the Glasgow event, they issued a strong statement emphasizing that they “do not condone any behaviour which can disrupt an event, such as whistling or booing when players are throwing.” They underlined that “Every player goes on stage with the intention of performing to the best of their ability and providing an entertaining spectacle for all fans, whether in the venue or watching worldwide.”3 The PDC also reminded spectators that “As per the terms and conditions of entry to events, spectators who act inappropriately can be removed from the venue.” They further stated their commitment to working with venues to “take proactive and decisive action against those who behave inappropriately.”
Despite the tumultuous environment, Littler managed to secure the nightly win, a testament to his mental resilience amidst the noise. His ability to overcome such external pressures speaks volumes about his burgeoning maturity and focus on the oche. As the Premier League season progresses, the challenge for both players and organizers will be to ensure that the passion of the crowd remains a positive force, contributing to the spectacle rather than detracting from the elite competition.
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