Michael van Gerwen has shrugged off the recent war of words between teenage sensations Luke Littler and Gian van Veen, insisting that a bit of on-tour needle is nothing new in professional darts.
The two young stars made headlines last week after Littler accused Van Veen of a lack of respect during a Players Championship event, with Van Veen quickly firing back that Littler needs to “learn how to lose.” However, speaking ahead of this weekend’s European Tour event in Germany, three-time world champion Van Gerwen dismissed the notion of a genuine feud.
“If this was news, Phil Taylor and I would’ve been on the front page every single week for a decade,” Van Gerwen said with a wry smile. “Trust me, what Luke and Gian said to each other is nothing. Nothing. In my day, we said worse things before breakfast.”
The Dutch legend, known for his own fiery confrontations with Taylor during their peak rivalry, argued that the current spat is a sign of the sport’s competitive depth rather than a breakdown in decorum.
“These kids are passionate. They want to win. Sometimes you say something in the heat of the moment,” Van Gerwen added. “The problem is that now every whisper gets recorded on a phone and put on social media. Back in 2010, me and Phil would be screaming at each other on stage, and the next day we’d shake hands and nobody wrote a novel about it.”
Van Gerwen did, however, offer a word of caution to both 19-year old Littler and 23-year old Van Veen. “Don’t let it become a circus. The moment you care more about the interview than the dartboard, you lose. But a little bit of fire? That’s good for darts. Just don’t cry about it.”
The PDC has declined to fine either player, with a spokesperson noting that no official complaint was filed. Both Littler and Van Veen are expected to compete in this weekend’s tournament, and organizers have already placed them on opposite ends of the draw to avoid a premature rematch—though the crowd is already hoping for a final showdown.
When asked who was right in the dispute, Van Gerwen laughed and walked off. “I don’t care. Just throw your darts.”
