Teenage sensation Luke Littler has made a remarkable claim following his latest match, insisting he did not truly suffer a defeat to James Wattimena, and instead pointed the finger at his opponent for allegedly making his darts “slippery.”
Despite the official scoreboard showing a loss for the 19 year-old star, Littler was adamant that external factors were at play. In a post-match interview that has quickly gone viral, Littler suggested that Wattimena’s actions during the contest compromised his grip on the tungsten.
“I’m not having that as a loss,” Littler stated, visibly frustrated. “I’ll hold my hands up when I’m beaten, but not when the darts feel like bars of soap. I’ve never had that issue before. It’s not the board, it’s not me—it’s the grip.”
Littler elaborated on his theory, claiming that an unusual residue or moisture on the darts made his usually smooth release falter. “He’s a great player, but how are you supposed to hit your doubles when you can’t even hold the thing properly? I couldn’t get any purchase,” he added, implying that the condition of the darts fell below his expected standard.
Wattimena, who secured the victory on the oche, was seen laughing off the accusations in the background. The Dutchman shrugged and suggested that the conditions were the same for both players.
“It’s the same for everyone. Maybe the air conditioning was on?” Wattimena joked, shaking his head in disbelief.
Despite the result, Littler remains confident heading into his next tournament, stating he will ensure his darts are “checked for grip” before stepping onto the stage.