{"id":5475,"date":"2026-04-03T08:09:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5475"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:09:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:09:58","slug":"luke-litter-hits-back-at-fuming-gian-van-veen-after-being-branded-not-a-good-loser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5475","title":{"rendered":"Luke Litter hits back at ‘fuming’ Gian van Veen after being branded ‘not a good loser’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"England's\t<\/div>
Luke Littler made a crying gesture towards Gian van Veen during their match (PA Wire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luke Littler has hit back at Gian van Veen after their heated Premier League match in Manchester on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

In a rematch of the World Darts Championship final, Littler faced Van Veen in the opening round at the AO Arena but this time the Dutchman won in a nervy final-leg decider.<\/p>\n

After missing a dart to win the match, Van Veen turned around and glared at Littler, who then threw his arms up and shouted towards the crowd.<\/p>\n

Littler then missed a second opportunity to win the match and as he walked away from the oche, the 19-year-old made a crying gesture to the crowd.<\/p>\n

Van Veen then hit double six to win the match and the pair shared a tense handshake.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"MANCHESTER,\t<\/div>
Gian Van Veen said he was \u2018fuming\u2019 with Luke Littler\u2019s conduct during the match (Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speaking after his win over Littler, Van Veen said: \u2018I see him cheering towards the crowd, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s normal and then he makes that crying gesture too.<\/p>\n

\u2018He is a great darts player, but today he shows that he is not a good loser. Cheering over an opponent\u2019s miss really annoys me, so that\u2019s why I gave him an angry look. That he then misses three darts at a double, that\u2019s his problem.\u2019<\/p>\n

Van Veen added: \u2018He was celebrating me missing double 15, that\u2019s out of order.<\/p>\n

\u2018I was fuming about that, and he missed three darts at double seven, then he looked at me like I was the problem. He is probably fuming, that\u2019s my perspective. His perspective is probably different.<\/p>\n

\u2018I love Luke to bits. All the attention he has brought to the sport is phenomenal but today was my day.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Luke Littler posted laughing emojis in response to Gian van Veen\u2019s criticism (Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Littler responded on Instagram by sharing Van Veen\u2019s thoughts on their exchange along with three laughing emojis.<\/p>\n

The two-time world champion also posted a screenshot of his trophy wins from Wikipedia page, along with the caption: \u2018Goodnight god bless thank you Manchester.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Luke Littler reminded people of his success after his defeat to Gian van Veen (Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gerwyn Price, who went on to beat Van Veen in the final at the AO Arena, gave his verdict on the Dutchman\u2019s clash with Littler.<\/p>\n

\u2018Things like this happen in darts, I\u2019m sure in a couple of weeks it\u2019ll be done and dusted, gone and we\u2019ll move on,\u2019 Price said.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve been in that situation, it\u2019s part and parcel, in darts emotions are high, it\u2019s a rollercoaster and people get hyped up.<\/p>\n

\u2018It is what it is. If you didn\u2019t have that reaction, sometimes you need to be a little bit peed off and get those reactions otherwise, what\u2019s the point?<\/p>\n

\u2018Do you not want to win that much? You\u2019ll probably regret some of the things you do, or the reactions you have then you think about it tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u2018But if you\u2019re not up for it in the game, sometimes it happens. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything wrong with it, I\u2019ve been there, the backlash of it, Luke will probably have it but in a couple of weeks, it\u2019ll be gone.\u2019<\/p>\n

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