Luke Littler: Why was he booed at the PDC World Darts Championship?

Littler said after the match that he may have startled the crowd too early during his match against Cross.

“They want the underdogs to win, and they want the favorites out,” Littler said.

“I had to get out of the way and do my job. I think this was my first time competing in a world championship and the fans didn’t want me to win.”

“I expect the worst on New Year’s Day.”

Fellow former world champion Michael van Gerwen was also booed during his first-round win over Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, while Littler’s mother took to social media on Tuesday to criticize the booing from fans.

So why is this happening so much this year?

“They’re looking for the underdogs to win, but they’re all going to be underdogs when they face Luke Littler,” double world champion Denis Priestley told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“When he’s faced with that… he seems to find the answers. He’s a global star, a world number one, maybe a two-time world champion, which we’ll soon see in just a few more days.”

“He’s just a young lad and hasn’t been around the scene long. There’s a lot to learn and he realizes that.

“It’s absolutely fantastic that he has his head on his shoulders, he has the head of a 40-year-old with all the experience he’s gained over the last 18 months.”