Luke Littler was booed at Brighton after losing to Stephen Bunting and recording PDC TV’s lowest average, but Wayne Mardle believes the Premier League quarter-final exit was a “retaliation” from last week’s altercation with Jan van Veen.
A week after his brawl with Dutchman Van Veen in Manchester, the world champion was again eliminated from the last eight on the 10th night of the tournament, seemingly unsettled by a hostile crowd.
Littler was jeered as he entered the Brighton Center for the third game of the night, and then endured sarcastic cheers during his poor start.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Littler vs. Stephen Bunting Quarterfinal Highlights
Bunting, who turned 41 on Thursday, could have easily enjoyed more comfortable success as he was given multiple chances by opponent throws and hit just 6 of 21 darts on the double.
Littler, who changed darts throughout the contest, showed little reaction to the loss, averaging just 83.94 points and never hitting the top score before shaking Bunting’s hand and meekly leaving the stage.
This was the lowest average for a 19-year-old in a televised PDC game.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Wayne Mardle takes a closer look at the causes of the fiery ending to Littler and Van Veen’s quarterfinal match
Former Premier League star Mardle felt before the match that favorite Littler was far from his usual level following another early sending off.
“I think tonight was a reaction to last week, but I don’t know. Littler seemed pretty calm, but he was lobbing darts at times. He wasn’t angry, but he didn’t throw as straight as he usually does,” said Hawaii 501.
“If I say it has nothing to do with last week, it’s more of a coincidence. It’s an effect of last week. I thought he was going to be okay, but he wasn’t.
“He’ll have to get back on his horse soon.”
Bunting spoke to Sky Sports after the win and addressed the boos directed at Littler.
He said, “Thankfully he’s human! It was tough because the crowd was giving him sticks. I like Luke because he’s a great young man. I don’t like to see things like that.”
“Littler wasn’t interested.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the Littlers Premier League quarter-final match against Van Veen in Manchester
Three-time world champion John Peart admitted that Littler “didn’t show interest” during his subdued play and said, “Stephen did what he had to do. It must have been uncomfortable watching him play with Luke.”
“He was really out of form. You can guess for whatever reason. For Stephen, he had to get into form. He could have won the game 6-0. He really should have. Luke won the first two fights, but he didn’t win anything.”
“He wasn’t interested. Stephen would say it was a lot more work than it needed to be.”
“But being No. 1 in the world and playing against the world champions is always a tough job.
“It’s always difficult. It’s hard to believe that you have a chance and your opponent plays poorly. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the final between Johnny Clayton and Michael van Gerwen on night 10 of the Premier League in Brighton.
Jonny Clayton ultimately staged a stunning comeback, defeating seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen in an emotional final to take a three-point lead over Littler in the standings.
After the win, the Welshman admitted that Littler and Van Veen had been training in separate rooms at the Brighton Center.
“They’re always in separate practice rooms. Me, Mike (van Gerwen) and Luke Humphries are in the same practice room and Gian usually goes in there,” said ‘The Ferret’, who recorded his third win of the night this year.
“I don’t think it’s anything. It just happens. Gian was with us and Luke (Littler) was on the other team. It’s nothing at all.
Clayton: Time for Littler to come after me again!
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
“It’s time for Littler to go after him,” Creighton said after the Premier League Round 10 win at Brighton.
The 2021 Premier League champions took a 1-0 lead in the final against Van Gerwen with an impressive 140 checkout, but an incredible surge from Van Gerwen, who averaged over 105, saw them take a 3-1 and then 5-2 lead as they moved closer to a second victory.
But Creighton bounced back with a remarkable comeback, surviving two darts from 5-2 down and another from 5-4 down, and racked up 84 more kills in the bullseye to go 5-5.
The 51-year-old then put an end to a decisive final leg with a composed 12 darter to complete the comeback and seal a night victory on the south coast in style.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Van Veen explains heated ending to last week’s match against Littler in Manchester
“I thought the game was over,” Clayton admitted. “He missed and gave me a chance. We have to take our chances. The last leg was probably my best in the match, but everything was important. I won and got back to the top of the standings. It’s time for Luke Littler to start chasing me again.”
“I know what it’s like to be here, I’ve had the experience, I know what it takes to get to finals night. You’ve got to play darts and take your chances. And if you play halfway, you’ve got a chance to play on night 17.”
“We lost to Josh Locke last week and the week before that. Last week’s game was great. Josh hit all the doubles. That puts pressure on us.”
“We were going for two points tonight, but everything else was a bonus. So it was great to finish the night back on top and win another trophy for the Cabinet.”
What’s happening on night 11 of the Premier League in Berlin?
The BetMGM Premier League moves across the English Channel, with another big match taking place in Rotterdam with an early start time of 6pm.
Dutch No. 1 Jan van Veen hosts Luke Humphries on his first Premier League night at home, while home hero Michael van Gerwen takes on Johnny Clayton.
Luke Littler will be competing with Gerwyn Price in a crucial battle near the top of the table, while Stephen Bunting will be looking to push further into the play-offs as he takes on Josh Lock.
Ranking points will be awarded each night, with five awarded to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists, forming a league table where the top four players will advance to the final night at the O2 in London on Thursday 28th May.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will defend his title and the fight can be seen on Sky Sports every Thursday until May. Stream darts and other top sports now.
