'Sometimes looks like he can’t be bothered': Luke Littler's body language remains a curiosity

In the latest episode of Sportnieuws.nl’s Darts Draait Door podcast, Vincent van der Voort sat down with Damian Vlottes for a wide-ranging chat covering both the state of the darts world and Van der Voort’s own life. From the injuries keeping him off the oche, to Luke Littler’s relentless dominance, and Mike de Decker’s remarkable World Series debut – nothing was off the table.

The show began on a light note, with Vlottes praising Van der Voort’s commitment – commentating on the Modus Super Series earlier in the day before joining the recording. Conversation quickly turned to the form of Danny van Trijp, who has qualified for the final week of the Super Series thanks to some sensational scoring – including a near-121 average in a final.

Van der Voort sees a familiar pattern emerging. “Players without a Tour Card often start playing more freely,” he noted. “You saw it before with Berry van Peer when he was winning everything, and now with Van Trijp. He’s looser, more relaxed – I even think he’s changed something in his setup.”

The Dutch Super League also came up, with Vlottes tipping Van Trijp to feature next season – though he warned the schedule could become punishing if the results keep flowing. Van der Voort was more cautious “For amateur darts it’s great – you’re always playing good opponents. But if you’re a PDC professional, you really need to let it go. Playing Euro Tour and Super League on the same day? Not advisable.”

Injuries: The Harsh Reality

The conversation then took a serious turn. Van der Voort revealed he had recently pulled out of a tournament due to neck pain. “The level in Belgium was good, but the next day I was in a lot of pain,” he said. “The physio told me I wouldn’t be able to play for three days. I’m not going to go up there half-heartedly.”

Some critics suggested he was “afraid” to play – a claim Van der Voort dismissed out of hand. "Do you know how much I’ve lost in my life? I’ve got nothing left to prove. If I’m playing, it has to be fun – otherwise I stop.”

He admitted the World Seniors Darts Matchplay would likely also be a miss. “I played in pain for years. I’m not doing that anymore. My focus now is on getting stronger – not on a comeback. I want less pain in everyday life.”

Littler’s Relentless Run

Attention then shifted to the Australian Darts Masters, where Luke Littler continued his seemingly unstoppable rise. “He just breezes through tournaments,” said Van der Voort. “Sometimes it’s like he’s playing against himself – two 180s, then a 45. He even uses these events to practise things like double 16 under pressure. That just makes him even more complete.”

Still, his body language remains a curiosity. “It sometimes looks like he can’t be bothered,” observed Vlottes. “He even said in an interview: ‘Next year I won’t come,’” added Van der Voort. “Not ideal for the fans, but he’s winning everything and can afford to say it.”

The pair also touched on Littler’s occasional showmanship – such as deliberately going tops-tops-tops against struggling opponents. "He just wants to show how good he is,” Van der Voort explained. “Michael van Gerwen had that too – as soon as a crowd turned up, he’d play twice as well. It’s something top players have.” Both agreed such antics, like those once seen from Phil Taylor and Van Gerwen, tend to split opinion – sparking both admiration and irritation in equal measure.

Mike de Decker’s Dream World Series Debut

Belgium’s Mike de Decker enjoyed a dream first World Series appearance in Australia, reaching the final at the first attempt.

“I was nervous before the first match,” De Decker admitted in a phone interview. “Some people thought I didn’t belong there, so of course you want to prove yourself.”

He did exactly that – sweeping aside Brendon Weening 6–2, whitewashing Luke Humphries 6–0, and beating Chris Dobey 7–4 to book a showdown with Littler. The teenager, however, proved too strong. “Even when he’s casual, he’s fantastic. Littler is just a phenomenon,” said De Decker.

One detail stood out – Humphries was clearly under the weather during their clash. “He was sitting apart from the rest, fist-bumping instead of shaking hands, and his voice was cracking. I think he was sick,” De Decker noted – later confirmed by “Cool Hand Luke” himself.

The Belgian highlighted the differences from a standard PDC event: “It’s more relaxed, more interaction with fans, meet-and-greets. And the accommodation… in New Zealand we’ve got a king suite – two rooms, a jacuzzi. You don’t get that in Blackpool.”

Alongside his good friend and travel companion Ludo, De Decker made the most of the trip – taking in the Sydney Opera House, the zoo, and evening city walks. Local hero Damon Heta and his wife acted as tour guides. “You don’t just pop over here for a city break, so to do it with my best mate is something I’m really enjoying,” De Decker smiled.