Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Luke Littler, Darts, World Darts Championship
Josh Lawless
Luke Littler has reacted after the referee was forced to intervene following crowd behaviour at night two of the Premier League darts on Thursday.
Reigning Premier League and world champion Littler met friend and familiar opponent Luke Humphries in the final, playing out a rematch of last year's main event at the OVO Hydro Arena.
Humphries, who suffered with an injury to his finger, won the final in Belfast on night one last week and matched the achievement after wins over Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey.
Littler, meanwhile, got past Rob Cross and Michael van Gerwen to set up a showdown with the 2024 champion and prevailed 6-5 to win night two.
But the game was overshadowed by constant whistling from sections of the crowd. It appeared to affect both players when they were throwing on the oche, as they lost composure and missed checkouts.
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At one point referee Kirk Bevins got on the microphone and shouted for fans to "Stop whistling" - but it didn't deter those in attendance as they continued to make noise.
Legendary commentator Wayne Mardle asked why the individual was not ejected, while Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davies was highly critical and said the fans "actively contributed" to players "not delivering their absolute best by whistling".
Littler was also left annoyed by the unusual atmosphere and believes Bevins stepping in made it even worse for him when he was throwing.
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"Yeah, obviously, there was a few in particular that were doing it [whistling] when Luke [Humphries] was throwing," Littler told Sky Sports.
"Kirk [Bevins, match referee] told them to be quiet and it got even worse, and then I missed doubles and Luke breaks at 5-4.
"I'm just like, 'Kirk, you've made it worse for me there, I'm 5-4 down.' But I broke back and held my throw very strongly again.
"If it's the same (outcome) as what it was when Kirk said it, then obviously just leave it. Obviously, they've got to step in at some point and say something. But yeah, that was pretty bad, but I got the win."
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Littler moved up to second in the overall Premier League standings, with next week's matches taking place at the 3Arena in Dublin on 20 February.