In the high-octane world of Premier League Darts, where tungsten titans clash under the spotlight every Thursday, a storm is brewing—and it’s not just about the perfect nine-darter. Vincent van der Voort, a retired Dutch darts maestro who hung up his arrows in early 2024, has lobbed a verbal dart straight at the heart of the current lineup. His target? The so-called “Luke Littler fanboys,” a group he believes is diluting the competitive edge of the prestigious tournament. With the 2025 season reaching its halfway mark, Van der Voort’s bold critique has sparked a fiery debate among fans and players alike, as the dominance of teenage sensation Luke Littler continues to reshape the sport.
Van der Voort, known for his no-nonsense style both on and off the oche, didn’t mince words when he aired his grievances. “There are too many Littler fanboys right now,” he declared, his frustration palpable. He’s not just pointing fingers at the adoring crowds who chant Littler’s name; he’s calling out the players themselves—professionals he feels are too chummy with the 18-year-old prodigy. In his view, the Premier League has become a stage where fist pumps and smiles overshadow the raw, cutthroat competition that once defined it. Among his prime examples are Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall, two of Littler’s recent victims, whom he accuses of being overly amicable rather than fiercely adversarial.
Littler, affectionately dubbed “The Nuke,” has been a force of nature in the 2025 season, defending his Premier League crown with a swagger that belies his age. With four nightly wins out of eight events, including a jaw-dropping 6-1 thrashing of world No. 1 Luke Humphries in Newcastle, he’s built an eight-point lead at the top of the standings. His performances have been nothing short of spectacular—think nine-darters, a century of maximums, and match averages that leave opponents reeling. Yet, for Van der Voort, this dominance exposes a weakness in the field: too many players are awestruck rather than stepping up to challenge the young titan.
Enter Dirk van Duijvenbode, Van der Voort’s compatriot and the man he’s championing as the antidote to this perceived softness. Currently ranked world No. 29, Van Duijvenbode hasn’t claimed a major TV ranking title, and he wasn’t among the eight players handpicked for this year’s Premier League. But Van der Voort sees something special in him—a fiery competitiveness that could shake things up. “Compared to some of the players in it now, I’d much rather watch Dirk,” he said with conviction. “There’s always something happening when he plays. He steps up to compete against Littler and does everything to win.” For Van der Voort, Van Duijvenbode represents a throwback to the days when rivalries were palpable, and every match felt like a battle.
The backdrop to this critique is Littler’s meteoric rise, a story that’s captivated the darts world. Since bursting onto the scene, he’s turned the Premier League into his personal playground, leaving seasoned pros scrambling to keep pace. His latest triumph in Newcastle saw him dispatch Bunting 6-0 in a mere 10 minutes, averaging just under 110, before cruising past Humphries in the final. Yet, Van der Voort argues that this one-sided narrative needs a counterpoint. He longs for a lineup where players don’t just marvel at Littler’s brilliance but push back with equal ferocity.
Van der Voort’s comments come at a pivotal moment. Night Nine looms on April 3 at Berlin’s Uber Arena, where Littler will face Chris Dobey, while heavyweights Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price square off in a clash that promises fireworks. The Dutchman’s call for change isn’t just a nostalgic rant—it’s a plea for the Premier League to rediscover its edge. He even hinted at his own near-miss with the competition, revealing that an injury-plagued 2024 season had once put him in contention for a spot. Now, as a spectator, he’s urging the powers that be to inject fresh blood like Van Duijvenbode into the mix.
Whether Van der Voort’s vision comes to pass remains to be seen. Littler’s reign shows no signs of slowing, and his rivals—fanboys or not—will need to dig deep as the season barrels toward the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on May 29. For now, the darts community is buzzing with the question: Is the Premier League too soft on its golden boy, or is Van der Voort simply stirring the pot? One thing’s certain—this debate is as gripping as any 180, and it’s keeping the sport’s pulse racing.
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