April 2nd, 2026. Manchester AO Arena. Luke Littler — world number one, reigning two-time world champion — had three darts to win the match. What happened instead became the most talked-about moment in darts for days.
In the deciding leg of their Premier League quarter-final on Night 9, Gian van Veen missed double 15 on 90. Littler celebrated toward the crowd, exchanged words with Van Veen on stage, then — after missing three darts at doubles himself — turned and performed a mocking crying gesture at his opponent. Van Veen walked back to the board and checked out on double 6 to win 6-5.
We break down the full incident, the post-match reaction from Van Veen, Wayne Mardle’s on-air analysis, Gerwyn Price’s response, Littler’s Instagram reply, and what this moment means for the rivalry that will define darts for the next decade.
📌 Covered in this video:
The full match breakdown — how Van Veen went 5-1 up and Littler fought back to 5-5
The exact sequence of the incident in the deciding leg
Van Veen’s post-match interviews on Sky Sports and Viaplay
Littler’s Instagram response and what it signals
The Premier League standings after Night 9
What this rivalry means for the future of darts
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