In a blistering war of words that has divided the world of professional darts, former world champion Gerwyn Price has launched a scathing attack on teenage sensation Luke Littler, accusing the sport’s new “media darling” of childish behavior and demanding he stop using crowd noise as an excuse for poor performances.
Speaking exclusively to Darts Insider following his second-round win at the Players Championship, Price did not hold back when asked about Littler’s recent complaints regarding hostile audience behavior during televised events.
“He needs to grow up, plain and simple,” Price said, his tone icy. “All this whining about the crowd booing or jeering—it’s embarrassing. You’re a professional athlete. If a few people shouting puts you off, you’re in the wrong sport.”
The comments come after Littler, 17, suggested in a post-match interview last week that some crowds had crossed the line, calling certain chants “a form of cheating” after a narrow defeat. While Littler stopped short of blaming the loss entirely on the atmosphere, he noted that “football-style” chanting had made it difficult to concentrate on crucial doubles.
Price, no stranger to controversy himself, bristled at the suggestion.
“Cheating? Give me a break,” the Welshman scoffed. “I’ve had beer thrown at me, death threats, the lot. You don’t see me crying to the media. Littler is a fantastic talent—probably the best natural thrower I’ve seen—but talent doesn’t give you a pass to act like a spoiled kid. If he can’t handle the heat, stay in the development tour.”
Price, who has often been the target of boos from British crowds, argued that crowd interaction is “part of the drama” that makes darts unique. He accused Littler’s management team of shielding the teenager from reality.
“The media built him into a superhero before he’d won a major. Now when he faces adversity, he wants everyone to be quiet and roll out a red carpet? No. Darts is a pub game that grew up. The crowds are loud, they’re passionate, and sometimes they’re nasty. Deal with it or lose.”
Littler has yet to respond directly to Price’s outburst, but a source close to the teenager told The Darts Gazette that he was “surprised and disappointed” by the personal nature of the attack, adding that Littler’s original comments were “measured and not aimed at any individual.”
Fans have reacted swiftly on social media, with the hashtag #TeamLittler trending alongside #PriceTheVillain. Some applauded Price for “telling the truth,” while others accused the former champion of bullying a 19 year-old.
Darts legend Wayne Mardle weighed in on the controversy during a broadcast, urging cooler heads: “Gerwyn has a point about resilience, but the delivery was unnecessary. Luke is young. He’ll learn. But calling a kid out like that? Not a good look.”
Meanwhile, tournament organizers the PDC declined to comment directly but reiterated that “crowd behavior is monitored” and that “all players are expected to compete under the same conditions.”
As the sport braces for a potential showdown between the two in upcoming Premier League nights, one thing is clear: the battle lines have been drawn. Price, the ultimate antagonist, has thrown down the gauntlet. Littler, the prodigy with the world at his feet, now faces the loudest test of his young career—not from the oche, but from the man across the stage.
