Luke Littler has fired back at Martin Schindler after a comment from the German player appeared to downplay Littler’s ability to sustain high-level darts throughout a match.
Schindler, speaking to DartsNews following his dramatic comeback win over William O’Connor at the German Darts Championship, praised his opponent’s early dominance but suggested neither O’Connor nor Littler could maintain that intensity over a full European Tour match.
“He started very, very well – I took the first leg, and then there wasn’t much coming from me for a while,” Schindler said of O’Connor. “He was absolutely ruthless, three legs in a row with 180s and 140s – you’re just chasing shadows at that point. But I knew he couldn’t maintain that level for the whole match – not even Luke Littler could – and he didn’t.”
While the comment seemed intended as a backhanded compliment, Littler didn’t see it that way. The reigning World Champion took to social media, posting a screenshot of the quote with the pointed caption: “Living rent free up there in that head.”
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Underlying Tensions?
The reason for Littler’s reaction remains unclear, especially as there’s been no public animosity between the pair in the past. However, tensions may trace back to the World Cup of Darts earlier this year, when Schindler and teammate Ricardo Pietreczko knocked out England in a controversial match marred by booing and whistling from the German crowd.
Littler, who was part of that England team alongside Luke Humphries, has since avoided events in Germany, reportedly due to the hostile atmosphere during that match. He withdrew from a recent tournament in the country and is only now set to return for the European Championship in Dortmund – his first appearance in Germany since the World Cup incident.
At the time, Schindler acknowledged the crowd’s behavior but stopped short of condemning it entirely.
“I think it was definitely one of the best atmospheres we’ve had in a World Cup,” Schindler told DartsNews. “Obviously, we have to say that we don’t approve of the whistling and booing.
For us, it’s not getting easier because our opponents are getting booed or whistled. So we still need to go out there and perform – and we’ve done that.”
He added that “both Lukes have been struggling,” referring to Littler and Humphries, following the loss.
Littler Returns to the Spotlight
After a rare weekend off, Littler is preparing to return to action at the European Championship next weekend. Despite taking a step back from German events, the teenager remains firmly in the spotlight – and clearly hasn’t forgotten the jabs sent his way.
With tensions simmering and both players set to compete in Dortmund, the stage is now set for a potential showdown, whether on the oche or through more off-board exchanges.
