In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where rivalries are as sharp as the tungsten tips, a surprising feud has emerged between a legend and a prodigy. Raymond van Barneveld, the five-time world champion and Dutch darts icon, has publicly vented his frustration with 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler, accusing the young star of ignoring his text messages. The spat, which unfolded in 2024, added a layer of tension to their already compelling narrative, culminating in a charged encounter at the World Series of Darts in Amsterdam. Van Barneveld’s blunt remark, “Dude’s on his phone all day, f*** off!” captured his exasperation, though he later clarified his words were misconstrued, highlighting a generational divide in communication and respect.
The roots of this discord trace back to Littler’s meteoric rise in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). At just 16, Littler stormed to the 2024 PDC World Championship final, defeating Van Barneveld 4-1 in the fourth round with a stunning 105.01 average. Littler, who idolized “Barney” growing up, reenacted the Dutchman’s iconic arms-outstretched celebration as a toddler, a video that resurfaced during their 2023 clash. “Raymond is a true hero of the game,” Littler said before their match, recalling a hotel encounter where Van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen encouraged him to stay focused. Yet, despite this admiration, Van Barneveld felt snubbed when Littler failed to respond to his congratulatory messages after the teenager’s victory at the Belgian Darts Open in March 2024. “I understand that you get thousands of text messages, but of course I’m not just anyone,” Van Barneveld remarked, stung by the silence from a player who cited him as an inspiration.
The tension simmered into September 2024, when Littler, the top seed at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, faced Van Barneveld in the second round. Littler admitted to “fearing the worst” against his idol in front of a pro-Barney Dutch crowd, acknowledging the potential for a grudge match. “Me and Raymond will both be confident,” he said, bracing for a hostile atmosphere. The 17-year-old delivered a 6-4 victory, averaging over 100 and raising his arm in a gesture of respect toward Van Barneveld, defying the crowd’s boos. Van Barneveld, gracious in defeat, later addressed the controversy, denying he told Littler to “f*** off.” “I never said that, I never said F off, never ever,” he insisted, blaming a journalist for twisting his words. He confirmed clearing the air with Littler’s manager, noting, “Luke said ‘Ray, we will have a chat next time.’”
This episode underscores the pressures of darts’ evolving landscape, where veterans like Van Barneveld, now 57, navigate a sport transformed by young stars like Littler, the 2025 PDC World Champion. Van Barneveld, who announced plans to “slow down” his career in 2025 after 40 years, admitted the physical and mental toll of competing against players like Littler, whose relentless rise includes titles in the Premier League, Grand Slam, and UK Open. “It’s all becoming a bit too much,” he said, reflecting on the grueling schedule. Meanwhile, Littler’s ascent, marked by a record-breaking 140.91 set average in the 2025 World Championship, has made him a global icon, though his youth and digital habits—favoring text messages over WhatsApp—clashed with Van Barneveld’s expectations.
The feud, though resolved, adds intrigue to their rivalry, blending admiration with misunderstanding. As Littler continues to dominate and Van Barneveld contemplates his legacy, their story reflects darts’ unique blend of camaraderie and competition, where a missed text can spark as much drama as a nine-darter.
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