DARTS fans continued to boo Luke Littler as the teenage sensation felt the full force of Rotterdam – home of bitter rival Gian van Veen.
, 19, as he went up to the stage on Thursday for Night 11 of the Premier League.
Luke Littler was again booed by darts fans as he went to the home or rival Gian van Veen Credit: Sky Sports
He still clapped the crowd after getting onto the stage Credit: Sky Sports
His walk-on before facing in the first quarter-final of the tournament was drowned out by whistling, booing, and shouting from the crowd.
Littler was already booed before even then, getting a bad reception when his face appeared on the screen pre-match.
Compared to Price, who was actively applauded and cheered, Littler’s name and title read out was booed and jeered.
He kept his head down and clapped fans once he reached the stage.
Each throw he failed to land in the treble was again jeered.
Price’s own trebles were cheered as their favourite was made clear from the start.
Littler did his best to silence them, .
That brought a set of chants for Price. The Welshman responded with his first leg of the game.
When his double landed in, the crowd went up like a goal had been scored for their country.
It comes after since their meeting in two weeks ago.
Littler, playing around an hour drive away from where Van Veen was born (Poederoijen), was never likely to be a popular figure in the Netherlands, and so it turned out.
The Nuke kept his head down despite the intimidating atmosphere. Credit: Sky Sports
It comes after his feud with home favourite Van Veen in recent weeks Credit: PA
His entrance song – Greenlight by Pitbull – could hardly be heard such was the noise from the Rotterdam watchers.
Littler has been an increasingly polarising figure .
The two-time world champ before that but things have escalated recently.
Littler’s fiery row with Van Veen a fortnight ago in his own home city .
And he not only lost to Van Veen in Manchester after missing match , but then put up his worst ever PDC performance on the south coast.
The Brit was dumped out in the opening round by Stephen Bunting after a week of talk followed him.
Littler had responded to Van Veen missing a chance to beat him in Manny – in a repeat of January World Championship final – by throwing his arms in the air.
Van Veen later accused world No1 Littler of celebrating it
Littler made a crying gesture behind Van Veen at the oche .
The pair will face off in the semis in Rotterdam if Littler beats Price and Van Veen gets past .
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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