Luke Littler crushed by Johnny Clayton in Rotterdam amid hostile Dutch crowd
Johnny Clayton has taken his fourth nightly win – beating Luke Littler, who was loudly booed, in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Arena
Luke Littler had a frosty reception when he first made his entrance on Thursday evening – Pitbull’s hit ‘Greenlight’ was drowned out by a chorus of boos.
However, Littler was quick to silence the sea or Oranje fans with an imperious display against Gerwyn Price. There had been hope that win would set up a grudge match with Gian van Veen.
The Dutchman, sadly, fell short in his quarter-final – but the Dutch crowd was treated to the latest instalment of Littler vs Luke Humphries – and after maybe a tad too much showmanship Littler advanced to the final.
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But it was one match too far for Littler, who was beaten by a Johnny Clayton who is in the form of his life.
“I started off slow. Luke then didn’t play how he started the match,” Clayton told Sky Sports. “You’ve got to take your chances and I’ve taken them again tonight – and that’s all that counts.
“I watched last week’s final against Michael [van Gerwen] back, and it hurt a little when somebody said I was favourite to finish bottom of the Premier League.
“That annoyed me a bit, to be honest. But it’s going good for myself so I’ve got a massive smile on my face.”
Littler, 19, was Public Enemy No.1 in Rotterdam after he clashed with Gian van Veen two weeks ago in Manchester.
Speaking about the crowd, Wayne Mardle said on Sky Sports”: “The atmosphere [in Rotterdam] is incredible! Michael van Gerwen is now the darling of Dutch darts. It used to be Raymond van Barneveld.
“The crowd are going to play a part, there’s no doubt about it. When Luke Littler was shown earlier, there was booing and hissing. He’s got to put up with this now, having created this little situation.
“He’s got to hold it together, but so have Michael and Gian. I think they will.”
