Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Darts, Luke Littler
Chris Nee
Luke Littler is finding PDC events in Germany a little less welcoming than those elsewhere.
The World Darts Champion was defeated by Gian van Geen in the semi-final of the Munich Grand Prix on Monday after beating Joe Cullen and Peter Wright in the previous two rounds.
Michael van Gerwen saw off his Dutch compatriot in the final while 'The Nuke' was left to ponder another bruising experience in front of a German audience.
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After his exit at the Kulturehalle Zenith, where the crowd cheered on Van Geen, Littler wrote on social media: "Shouldn't have been in Munich but had to play anyway. Next one in Germany for me is Dortmund [in October] and I am glad to say that."
The full context of Littler's comment is not clear but difficult visits to the country are starting to pile up and the world champion is evidently relieved to be having a breather.
At the beginning of this month, Littler played in a Premier League round in Berlin.
He lost heavily to fellow Englishman Chris Dobey in his first match, averaging 93.28 in a 6-2 defeat.
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Littler's reception from the Berlin crowd irritated the world number two.
"I had a little headloss moment, as some of us players do," he admitted.
"I just don’t get it, and I can’t explain it. Obviously, you do your walk-on, but then as soon as I got on stage, I started getting booed.
"I got booed in Hildesheim last year against Peter Wright on the European Tour. I was flying and then they started booing me and I lost. It’s something we’ve all got to deal with."
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Max Hopp, the 27-year-old German player who undertook punditry duties in Berlin in early April, spoke out about the fans.
"I heard it too," confirmed 'The Maximiser'.
"He was interacting a lot with the crowd, making gestures and engaging with them.
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"But I don't understand why people would boo him. They should be thanking him!
"The fact that prize money is about to skyrocket is all because of him."
Littler's popularity on the circuit is mirrored among the general public and darts is riding the crest of a wave in the UK.
Littler and world number one Luke Humphries are major contributors to that and Hopp recognised their impact despite Littler's lumpen loss in Berlin in early April.
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'The Nuke' beat Van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace in January to claim his first World Darts Championship.