BREAKING: Darts stars Luke Littler and Michael Van Gerwen arrested for match fixing charges
LONDON — In a sensational development that has rocked the world of professional darts, teenage sensation Luke Littler and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen have been arrested on suspicion of match fixing, authorities confirmed early Thursday morning.
The pair were taken into custody separately following a joint investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA). Sources indicate the charges relate to a high-profile Premier League Darts match played in Rotterdam last month, which Van Gerwen won 6–4 after Littler was seen to miss a series of uncharacteristic doubles.
An NCA spokesperson confirmed: “Two male professional darts players, aged 17 and 35, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit betting fraud and manipulating sporting outcomes. They remain in custody for questioning.”
The investigation is believed to centre around unusual betting patterns detected before and during the Rotterdam match. Several accounts reportedly placed substantial wagers on a specific combination of legs and checkout misses — bets described by one industry source as “statistically improbable.”
Littler, who turned 17 in January and has taken the sporting world by storm since his run to the PDC World Championship final, was reportedly detained at his training base in Warrington. Van Gerwen, the Dutch icon known as “Mighty Mike,” was arrested at his home in Vlijmen, the Netherlands, under a European Arrest Warrant.
The DRA released a short statement: “We are aware of the arrests and are cooperating fully with the authorities. No further comment will be made at this stage, and we will not prejudge any outcome.”
Reaction has been one of disbelief from the darts community. Former world champion John Part called the news “devastating,” while fans on social media expressed shock that two of the sport’s biggest names — one a veteran legend, the other a phenom seen as darts’ future — could be implicated.
Van Gerwen’s management has declined to comment. Littler’s family, via a spokesperson, said the teenager “vehemently denies any wrongdoing.”
Both players have been suspended from all PDC-sanctioned events pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. If found guilty, they could face lengthy bans and possible prison sentences.
The PDC has yet to announce how this will affect the remainder of the Premier League season, with Van Gerwen currently top of the table and Littler a major crowd draw.
