In a shocking development that has rocked the world of professional darts, teenage sensation Luke Littler and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen were reportedly detained and interrogated by police late Tuesday night following an arrest linked to an ongoing match-fixing investigation.
The two players were taken into custody for questioning after authorities raided a hotel near the venue of the recent Premier League Darts night in Liverpool, sources confirmed. The investigation, led by the National Crime Agency’s sports integrity unit, is believed to center around suspicious betting patterns detected during a high-profile match last month.
According to a police spokesperson, two men—identified in reports as the 17-year-old Littler and the 35-year-old van Gerwen—were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and manipulating the outcome of a sporting event. Both have since been released under investigation pending further inquiries.
“We can confirm that two individuals were detained as part of an active operation into match manipulation in professional darts,” a statement from Merseyside Police read. “Enquiries are ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this time.”
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) released a brief statement expressing shock at the allegations. “The PDC has been made aware of an investigation involving two of its players. We take any suggestion of corruption with the utmost seriousness. Neither player will be permitted to compete while the investigation is ongoing, and we will cooperate fully with the authorities.”
Littler, who took the darts world by storm with his run to the World Championship final at age 16, has become one of the sport’s most marketable stars. Van Gerwen, a dominant force in the sport for over a decade, has denied any wrongdoing through his management team.
“Michael vehemently denies any involvement in match fixing,” a representative said. “He voluntarily cooperated with police and is confident the investigation will clear his name completely.”
Littler’s family declined to comment, but a source close to the teenager told reporters, “Luke is devastated. He’s just a kid who loves playing darts. The idea that he would throw a match for money is laughable.”
Darts fans reacted with disbelief on social media, with many refusing to believe two of the sport’s biggest names would risk their careers. However, integrity experts noted that suspicious betting activity—including unusually large wagers on an underdog winning a specific leg—had triggered an automatic alert.
Neither player has been formally charged, and both are expected to face further questioning in the coming days. The PDC has not confirmed whether the match in question was a televised fixture, but sources suggest it took place during a European Tour event earlier this month.
For now, two of darts’ biggest stars remain in limbo, their reputations hanging in the balance as police continue to scrutinize phone records, betting accounts, and match footage.
