Tensions flared during a heated quarter-final match in Manchester as Van Veen secured a dramatic victory over the world No 1.
Category: Sports
In a dramatic quarter-final of the Premier League Darts in Manchester, Gian van Veen secured a thrilling 6-5 victory over world No 1 Luke Littler, who was accused of unsportsmanlike behavior during the match. Van Veen, who was recovering from kidney stone surgery, expressed his frustration after Littler celebrated his missed double 15, leading to a heated exchange between the two players.
The encounter at the AO Arena was charged with tension, especially as Littler had been riding high on the momentum of back-to-back victories in Dublin and Berlin. As the favorite on home soil, expectations were high for the 19-year-old, but his hopes for a third consecutive win were dashed by Van Veen, who had not won a match since week four of the competition.
Van Veen took an early lead, establishing a commanding 4-1 advantage. Littler, hailing from nearby Warrington and a big Manchester United fan, mounted a comeback to level the match at 5-5. The turning point came when Van Veen missed a chance to close the match at 5-3, allowing Littler to equalize, but the drama escalated when Van Veen missed double 15 for the match.
As Van Veen turned to the crowd in disappointment, Littler celebrated, prompting Van Veen to respond with an angry look. "I missed double 15 and I looked around, and I was fuming with myself that I missed, and I looked around and he was celebrating that I missed," Van Veen told Sky Sports. "That was out of order. I was fuming about that. He missed three darts at double seven and then he looked at me like I was the problem. I was like, 'I don't know what I've done wrong because you're celebrating me missing.'"
In a moment of frustration, Littler mimicked crying to the crowd, which only added to the tension. Van Veen eventually hit double six to secure his victory, followed by a brief and frosty handshake between the two competitors. The incident drew criticism from pundits and fans alike, with former player Wayne Mardle commenting on the situation. "Luke did something he shouldn't have done and that was giving it this (celebration), but what he didn't expect was Gian to see him. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He won't be doing that again!" Mardle said.
After the match, Van Veen reiterated his feelings about Littler's behavior, stating, "He is a fantastic player, but today he showed he is not a good loser. Celebrating a miss from your opponent really annoys me." Littler, unfazed by the criticism, took to Instagram to respond, posting a screenshot of his achievements alongside Van Veen's quotes, complete with laughing emojis.
Even though Littler suffered a setback, he remains at the top of the Premier League standings, with Van Veen climbing to fifth place following his victory. The rivalry between the two players appears to be heating up, especially considering their previous meeting in January's World Championship final, which Littler won.
In the following semi-finals, Van Veen faced Josh Rock, winning 6-3, but his luck ran out in the final against Gerwyn Price, who triumphed with a convincing 6-2 victory. Price's performance was notable, as he averaged 105.84 throughout the evening and moved up to second in the league table, just two points behind Littler.
Price, who has had a successful run in the Premier League, commented on the tensions between Van Veen and Littler, saying, "I've been in that situation. That's part and parcel of darts. Emotions are up and down, it's a rollercoaster. Sometimes you need to be a bit p***** off and get those reactions, otherwise what's the point?" He expressed sympathy for Littler, acknowledging that such moments happen in the sport.
The next round of the Premier League Darts is set for Brighton on April 9, where Littler will face Stephen Bunting, and Van Veen will take on Michael van Gerwen in an all-Dutch showdown. The stakes are high as the competition continues to heat up, with the top four players moving on to the playoff night at London's O2 Arena on May 28.
As the tension between Littler and Van Veen simmers, fans and pundits alike closely to see how their rivalry develops in the coming weeks. With both players vying for the top spot, the drama is far from over.