'No surprise' Littler booed in Newcastle – Chris Mason exclusive
Former World Darts Championship semi-finalist Chris Mason says he isn’t surprised Luke Littler was booed at the opening BetMGM Premier League Darts night in Newcastle.
Speaking on Double Tops sponsored by BetMGM a new weekly podcast centred around the BetMGM Premier League Darts season, Mason said: “It’s a typical British thing, we don’t like winners. I’m not surprised he got booed in Newcastle, though, as it’s happened before.
“I was working in Germany and he got a load of stick – and he’s basically now said that unless he really has to he won’t go there anymore. It’s an interesting one as something like 30% of tickets sold at the World Championship are to Germans.
“The culture of booing has worked its way into darts, you just have to look at the stick Gezzy (Gerwyn Price) got.
“If it’s a wall of noise you can play in it, it’s when the whistles and the other sounds come in that it gets tricky. You become very aware of it and, when you throw, you almost wait for it because you know it’s coming.
“I don’t really understand it and I don’t like it. Why are people booing the best player in the world? Let him and the other players do what they do and play at their best.”
Double Tops sponsored by BetMGM is a new show, hosted by YouTuber and podcaster JaackMaate as well as Sky Sports’ Anna Woolhouse and Polly James.
It brings together the biggest moments from the BetMGM Premier League along with behind-the-scenes stories from a range of celebrity guests and darting stars.
PREMIER LEAGUE FORMAT ‘DOESN’T SUIT’ LITTLER
After Littler was beaten by Gian Van Veen in his first match in Newcastle, Mason suggested the BetMGM Premier League format isn’t one that brings out the best in the world champion.
“In his first campaign, he didn’t win a night until the ninth week,” Mason said. “After all that hype, it took him quite a lot of time to get going before he, of course, went on to win it.
“I know he won it in 2024 and lost in the final last year, but this format doesn’t really suit him. It’s short and he’s vulnerable, especially in those early matches.
“He takes a bit of time to get going because he’s not a big practicer. He plays himself into form while he’s at a tournament.
“He might have lost in Newcastle but that won’t bother him and he responds to pressure like Phil Taylor did. If you put Phil under pressure he’d find another gear and it would break you – it makes them unplayable and there is nothing you can do.
“It’s never a foregone conclusion but I’m always of the view that, if you don’t get him early, you don’t get him at all.”
Watch the full episode of Double Tops sponsored by BetMGM here and stay tuned as new episodes drop every Wednesday.
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