Former world number one warns Luke Littler against continued taunting of crowd: 'Could get to a point where they are at you constantly'

Luke Littler has reinvigorated the sport of darts since his emergence on the PDC scene at the 2024 World Darts Championship. But with Littler now becoming the man to beat, and sports crowds generally favouring the underdog, the 18-year-old has been more and more hostile receptions over recent months.

In his typically entertaining fashion, Littler often responds to the whistles or boos he receives by playing up to the crowd, taunting them after hitting a double despite their trying to put him off. For former World Matchplay winner and PDC World number one Colin Lloyd, this strategy of Littler's could have a negative effect for 'The Nuke' in the long run.

“The one that really got me was when he came walking back and they were booing him as he was going for a double," says Lloyd in his analysis for TalkSport, referring to the most recent night of Premier League Darts action in Leeds. “He hit the double - that was against Nathan. He came walking back to the crowd and just went…” (Mimics crying gesture).

“People have said over the years, or the past few months anyway, that the game has not got many characters anymore," Lloyd continues. “I think he’s turning into a bit of a character. I think he is someone who goes up there and goes about his business in his own way, and he just does not care."

As mentioned though, Lloyd is also concerned that this carefree and playful attitude Littler has in regards to the boos, could change quickly if the crowd step up their hostility in response to Littler's own antagonising.

“He doesn’t care that they're booing him or trying to do things to him. He just shrugs his shoulders. And he interacts with the crowd, and they should appreciate that. But sure, that’s up to him if it works for him," 'Jaws' notes. “When you’re doing stuff like that, you could get to a point where they are at you constantly, and then if you react to them, you can’t complain. But listen at this moment in time, he is riding the crest of a wave for the last 18 months, and it looks like that wave is going to continue.”