Luke Littler has admitted he has yet to speak to Jan van Veen since the Manchester incident, but insists the matter has been resolved.
The pair got into an argument on stage at the Premier League three weeks ago, with the two-year world champion accused of celebrating when his opponent missed a match dart.
There was a frosty handshake at the end of the match, followed by another on social media, and both fighters have since doubled down on their versions of the event.
Littler said his relationship with the Dutchman had not yet been resolved, but he was looking forward to a rematch. Both players could face each other if they reach the finals at Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham.
“No, we haven’t talked. I’m not the type of person to walk up and talk to him,” Littler said.
“Maybe he’s waiting for me to talk to him, but I’m not the type to do that. Even in the practice room, people always talk to me first.
“I’m not a talkative type of person.
“Obviously you can settle it on the dartboard, but backstage it was normal and in terms of preparation it was the same.
“I think he forgot about it. So did I. I moved out the next day and went on vacation.”
Littler has been feeling the aftermath of the controversy, with fans slamming him ever since it broke out.
He received a hostile reception in Rotterdam last week and took an unwelcome turn on the wrong side at Liverpool on Thursday, but silenced the booboys with an impressive victory over Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Johnny Clayton en route to victory.
There has been much debate about Littler’s actions in Manchester, but he claims he has no regrets about the incident.
“No, I don’t regret anything,” Littler said. “Of course, I have my opinion and he has his, so we’re all entitled to that.
“I think we’ve been on top of each other’s games on stage, but off stage we obviously haven’t talked.
“The last few weeks have been tough, but we had no choice but to get on with it.
“Just playing darts, that’s what I’ve been doing now. Winning tonight gave me confidence.”
Success on the banks of the Mersey will mean more to Littler than his many victories.
He hasn’t had the warmest of welcomes in the city, mainly because he is a Manchester United fan and is quick to mock the club’s fortunes at Anfield on social media.
But he says it was nothing compared to the reception he received last week against Van Veen in his home base of Rotterdam.
“If it gets any worse than that, then there’s something wrong,” he added.
“Rotterdam was much worse than tonight. Last week we even proved to people that we can win games in those conditions.”
“I wasn’t worried. I was just expecting the worst, but it was no worse than Rotterdam. That was the worst game I’ve ever been in.”
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Watch the games every Thursday on Sky Sports until the final in May. Stream darts and other top sports now.




