Vincent van der Voort Questions Luke Littler’s Schedule After Shock Defeats
Luke Littler has conquered some of the biggest stages in darts, collected major titles at an astonishing rate and made winning look almost effortless. But now, with a few unexpected defeats disrupting his incredible run, one former professional believes there may be a problem hiding in plain sight: the amount of competitive darts the world number one is actually playing.
Vincent van der Voort has questioned Littler’s limited tournament schedule after the teenager suffered another painful defeat at the World Youth Championship. His concern is straightforward. Could a lack of regular competitive matches be affecting the sharpness that made Littler such a frightening opponent?
Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort delivered a verdict that will spark plenty of debate among fans: “Maybe he just isn’t in form at the moment. He plays so little. When you are in form, everything goes right.”
It is a bold assessment of a player who has enjoyed extraordinary success. But with the biggest tournaments of the year approaching, there are legitimate questions about whether Littler’s approach needs reconsidering.
Another World Youth Championship Disappointment
Littler’s latest setback came against Cam Crabtree in the semi-finals of the PDC World Youth Championship, where he lost 6-5 on Monday.
The defeat was particularly frustrating because Littler appeared to be in a strong position to reach the final. He led 5-4 before Crabtree fought back, forcing the match into a deciding leg.
Littler produced a 15-dart leg to level the contest, seemingly setting himself up for a successful finish. However, the decisive leg did not go according to plan.
He opened with scores of 97, 57, 100 and 31 before finally landing a 180. Crabtree capitalised on the opportunity and completed the victory on double 12.
Damian Vlottes, who was discussing the match alongside Van der Voort, struggled to understand how Littler had failed to close it out.
“It is very strange that he does not win that final leg with his experience,” Vlottes observed.
For a player accustomed to handling pressure on the biggest stages, the result was certainly surprising. However, it was also a reminder that even elite performers can struggle when their rhythm disappears at a crucial moment.
Is Littler Playing Too Little Darts?
Van der Voort’s main concern is not necessarily the defeat itself. Instead, he believes Littler’s reduced playing schedule could be contributing to his recent inconsistency.
The former professional compared Littler’s current approach with the period before he became a household name. Back then, the young Englishman competed regularly across different competitions, gaining experience and developing his game through constant match practice.
Van der Voort explained: “If you look at what he was playing before he had a Tour Card, in his first year, he was throwing so much more. He played a lot of BDO events, MODUS weeks, Youth tournaments, JDC events. He was playing a tournament every week and now he does very little.”
That comparison raises an interesting point about Littler’s development.
When a young player is competing almost every week, there are constant opportunities to test techniques, build confidence and learn from mistakes. Reducing that frequency might provide more rest, but it can also mean fewer opportunities to regain competitive rhythm after a disappointing performance.
Van der Voort also questioned whether exhibition appearances provide the same benefits as serious tournament matches.
“He simply plays darts very little. He does those demonstrations every now and then, but there you are actually taking more autographs and photos than actually being a darts player.”
It is a sharp criticism, although exhibitions and professional tournaments serve different purposes. Meeting fans and fulfilling commercial commitments are part of modern sporting life, while competitive events demand a different level of concentration.
The challenge is finding the right balance.
Littler’s Schedule Has Become a Talking Point
Littler’s decisions about which events to enter have attracted growing attention this season.
He withdrew from Players Championship events in September and has skipped other tournaments, including the Swiss Darts Trophy in October. His limited participation in the Players Championship series has also affected his prospects of qualifying for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
Van der Voort finds the combination of those absences and Littler’s decision to play the World Youth Championship difficult to understand.
The youth tournament has a different competitive purpose from the senior circuit, and Littler has already established himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars. That does not mean he should be criticised simply for entering it, but it does raise questions about how he prioritises his available playing time.
Van der Voort’s concern is particularly relevant because the calendar is moving towards the season’s biggest events.
The European Championship runs from October 22-25, followed by the Grand Slam of Darts from November 14-22. The World Darts Championship then provides the ultimate test at the end of the year.
If Littler continues missing regular tournaments, the number of competitive matches he plays before the World Championship could be lower than Van der Voort believes is ideal.
Still, the full picture depends on Littler’s own priorities, preparation and physical condition. Without knowing the reasoning behind every scheduling decision, it would be unfair to assume that fewer appearances automatically mean inadequate preparation.
A Rare Dip in Form or Something More?
Perhaps the most interesting part of Van der Voort’s assessment is his acknowledgement that Littler has barely experienced a genuine slump since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old.
He has become accustomed to winning major titles, making deep tournament runs and producing performances that leave opponents struggling to keep pace.
That extraordinary consistency has created expectations that would be difficult for almost any player to maintain indefinitely.
Van der Voort recognised this when he said: “Let’s start by saying that he rose to prominence at sixteen and we haven’t experienced a rough patch from him yet. That is yet to come, and perhaps this is already it.”
There is an important distinction between recognising a temporary dip and suggesting that a player is losing his ability.
Littler has already demonstrated that he can recover quickly from disappointing results. Earlier in the season, he returned from a break following the World Matchplay and immediately won a European Tour event, reminding everyone how quickly he can rediscover his best form.
That history makes it premature to suggest his recent losses represent a serious decline.
However, the defeats to Jonny Clayton at the World Series of Darts Finals, Luke Woodhouse at the World Grand Prix and Crabtree at the World Youth Championship have given critics more reason to examine his preparation.
Van der Voort also believes the setbacks could place additional pressure on Littler ahead of the World Championship.
He warned: “You can’t tell me he isn’t getting a little bit insecure about this. He just hasn’t won three tournaments in a row now. It’s been a while. That puts a lot of pressure on that World Championship.”
Whether Littler feels that pressure is impossible to know. What matters is how he responds to the next challenge.
The European Championship Could Provide an Answer
Littler now has an opportunity to silence the doubts through performances rather than words.
Van der Voort himself acknowledged that the teenager could prove his critics wrong at the European Championship, saying: “Maybe he will prove to us all that it wasn’t for him and wipe the floor with everyone during the European Championship. That is still possible, of course. I don’t think it’s wise that he plays so little. But then again, who am I?”
That final qualification matters. Van der Voort is offering an experienced opinion, not declaring that Littler’s schedule will inevitably damage his chances.
Ultimately, Littler has earned the right to manage his own career. His success gives him considerable freedom to choose his tournaments, but those choices also come with consequences that will be judged by results.
If he returns to winning ways, the scheduling debate could quickly disappear. If more early exits follow, questions about competitive sharpness will become harder to dismiss.
For now, the sensible approach is to recognise both possibilities.
Littler remains one of darts’ most dangerous players, and a handful of defeats cannot erase what he has achieved. But Van der Voort has raised a genuine question about whether regular competition is more valuable than Littler currently believes.
Do you agree with Van der Voort that Littler needs to play more tournaments to maintain his sharpness, or should the world number one continue choosing his own schedule?