In a shocking twist at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, 18-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler, dubbed ‘The Nuke,’ suffered a devastating semi-final loss that has cast a shadow over his future in German tournaments. The reigning World Darts Champion was ousted by 22-year-old Gian van Veen, prompting Littler to hint at boycotting German events until the European Tour finale in Dortmund this October. The hostile Munich crowd and a grueling match have left the darts world reeling.
Littler, a global star since clinching the World Darts Championship earlier this year, is used to roaring fans chanting his name. But in Munich, the atmosphere turned sour. The crowd, usually his allies, vocally backed Peter Wright in the quarter-finals and erupted for Van Veen in the semi-finals. Rattled, Littler withdrew from engaging with the audience after a 7-4 defeat, where Van Veen’s stellar 110.81 average outshone Littler’s 95.78, capped by a clinical double 16.
The match was a wild ride. Littler stumbled early, trailing 3-0, and switched darts in desperation. A gritty fightback saw him take a 4-3 lead, sparking hopes of a miracle. Yet Van Veen, cool under pressure, stormed back with four straight legs, cementing his status as a rising star. Littler’s frustration boiled over on Instagram, where he vented: “Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway. Next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.” This suggests he may skip four upcoming German events: the European Darts Grand Prix, European Darts Open, Baltic Sea Darts Open, and German Darts Championship.
Germany has been a tough battleground for Littler. Earlier this month in Berlin’s Premier League, he faced boos after a 6-2 loss to Chris Dobey, missing 11 of 13 checkouts. Then, he defiantly taunted the crowd, but Munich’s hostility seems to have broken his resolve. The cumulative toll of these experiences has Littler rethinking his German appearances, despite his earlier hopes of dominating there.
Littler’s Munich run was impressive, with a 6-1 thrashing of Cam Crabtree (averaging 107+), plus wins over Joe Cullen and Peter Wright. Yet, the crowd’s betrayal left him isolated. “I feel a bit emotionless,” he confessed after the International Darts Open in Germany, a feeling that deepened in Munich.
The darts community is now buzzing with questions. A German boycott could shake the European Tour, where Littler’s star power draws crowds. For now, he’s gearing up for a Premier League quarter-final against Michael van Gerwen in Liverpool. As a Manchester United fan, he’s no stranger to hostile arenas, and fans believe he’ll channel his Munich pain into a fiery performance.
As Littler faces this storm, his talent and grit remain unshakable. Will ‘The Nuke’ truly shun Germany until October, or return sooner to conquer his critics? The darts world waits with bated breath.