Luke Littler’s mother criticized fans at Alexandra Palace, describing them as ‘hostile’ and ‘disrespectful’ after her son faced booing during his defense at the World Darts Championship. Despite the challenging atmosphere, the reigning champion managed to defeat Rob Cross and progress to the quarter-finals.
The tournament offers an unprecedented prize of £1 million for the winner. This competition marks Littler’s ascendancy to the world number one position, displacing Luke Humphries.
Having gained international recognition for reaching the final at just 16 years old, Littler has become a prominent figure in the Professional Darts Corporation circuit.
Following his victory over Cross, Littler engaged in enthusiastic celebrations, addressing the booing crowd and humorously acknowledging that their ticket purchases contribute to his earnings.
The controversy continued as his mother, Lisa, defended him on social media, referring to the crowd as “disrespectful” and “unpleasant.” She responded sarcastically to negative comments about her son’s behavior during the match.
Despite the backlash, Littler remained focused on his goal of claiming the PDC’s top prize, with his eyes set on the championship. The young athlete faced a challenging match against Cross, where he not only had to outplay his opponent but also contend with a rowdy London audience.
Acknowledging the audience’s reaction, Littler later issued an apology for his taunting behavior, emphasizing the importance of fan support in contributing to his success.
In a press conference, he reflected on his response to the crowd’s hostility, noting that he may have reacted hastily but ultimately stayed focused on the game. With his victory over Cross, Littler sets up a quarter-final clash with Krzysztof Ratajski on New Year’s Day, following Ratajski’s success in the fourth round against Luke Woodhouse.