Luke Littler is set for a hostile reception when he returns to Berlin for Night Eight of the Premier League Darts on Thursday. The world champion will face German fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena who have often booed him in the past, with former world champion Mark Webster noting that such reactions come with the territory. Littler has voiced negative feelings about playing in Germany several times in recent years, even threatening to skip tournaments after being jeered, but he will compete this week as he chases his third nightly title of the 2026 season.
Mark Webster, speaking on the Love The Darts podcast, believes the situation could provide extra motivation for Littler. "He's made it vocal he doesn't like playing in Germany," said Webster. "This is obviously a forced one he has to go to along with the European Championship. It will be interesting to see if he plays the World Cup as well - I think he will!" Webster added that Littler knows how to use the crowd to fire himself up and would love to put in a performance to secure a third win despite the jeers.
Tensions between Littler and German crowds have been evident for some time, stemming from incidents like booing at the German Darts Grand Prix last year and hostile atmospheres on the European Tour. Littler previously expressed confusion over the reactions, which started as soon as he stepped onto the stage. Webster sees this as a logical result of Littler's status, stating, "It's part and parcel of the sport, isn't it? You can't be everyone's favourite and he certainly not a favourite in Germany." He noted that players who win a lot often face hostile reactions, especially in countries where audiences prefer others to win.
On Night Eight in Berlin, Littler meets Stephen Bunting in the quarterfinals, with a win bringing him closer to the Play-Offs and a potential third nightly title. Other marquee clashes include leader Jonny Clayton facing Josh Rock, Luke Humphries taking on Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price versus Gian van Veen for a semifinal spot.
