Littler’s darts playfulness leaves rivals helpless, says Van der Voort

November 27, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

A new level of unpredictability has entered top level darts this season, driven by 18 year old Luke Littler, whose rapid rise has shifted both the competitive landscape and the expectations placed on young players.

His ability to improvise under pressure, while remaining unfazed by veteran opponents, has led many inside the sport to suggest that darts may be entering another period of sustained dominance.

Rising influence

Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, former Dutch professional Vincent van der Voort said Littler’s form has reminded him of the years when Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen set the standard for the entire sport. Van der Voort, who spent more than two decades on the professional circuit, said he has been surprised by how naturally Littler handles high stakes moments.

He pointed to the teenager’s 121 checkout against Ricardo Pietreczko at the Players Championship Finals, a sequence completed with bull, treble 7, bull.

Van der Voort described the finish as “bizarrely beautiful,” noting that such a choice would have been unthinkable in earlier eras known for their tension and unwritten rules about respect at the oche, the line from which players throw.

To give context, Littler has already reached major finals, topped seasonal averages and become one of the PDC’s most watched players, a level of attention usually reserved for stars with significantly more experience.

Changing attitudes

Van der Voort said that a shot like Littler’s 121 would once have caused an argument among players. “In the past, he would’ve ended up in a row over that, trying to humiliate someone like that,” he recalled on the podcast. He added that current players tend to react more calmly, with the sport’s culture becoming more relaxed compared with the combative atmosphere of the 2000s and early 2010s.

He also suggested the finish may have been aimed at Pietreczko intentionally, referring to their previous friction on stage. “That was definitely intentional. He certainly hasn’t become more cautious after last time,” Van der Voort said.

Control on the stage

What stands out most to Van der Voort is Littler’s ability to dictate the rhythm of a match. He said many of the teenager’s opponents struggle to build any meaningful pressure because Littler appears comfortable experimenting even in close legs. “He toys with his opponents and with the game itself. He just does whatever comes into his head, and he gets away with it too,” he said.

According to Van der Voort, the rest of the field faces a challenge in adapting to a style that blends heavy scoring with a willingness to take unconventional routes to victory. He noted that Luke Humphries may be the only player currently capable of matching Littler over the longest formats.

When asked how he himself might have reacted to such a finish during his competitive years, Van der Voort admitted, “I would’ve thought, beep beep. But then again, it’s pretty clever when it comes off.”