‘What sort of moron does that’ – ITV commentator furious as referee tells crowd off during Luke Littler match
LUKE LITTLER breezed into the second round of the World Masters after silencing nuisance whistlers.
The Nuke – on the oche just ten days after his 18th birthday – outclassed Belgian qualifier Andy Baetens 3-0 in Milton Keynes.
The former WDF Lakeside world champion – making his main-draw TV stage appearance on the PDC circuit – was clinically dumped out of the revamped ranking tournament in 10 minutes and 45 seconds.
Reigning world champion Littler averaged 104.33 and took out six of his nine checkouts in the three-set whitewash.
Yet referee Kirk Bevins had to intervene before the final leg as some punters in the crowd began to whistle, shouting: “Stop whistling, thank you.”
It was very distracting to watch on TV, with ITV commentator John Rawling fuming: “What sort of a moron comes along to a big darts event and starts whistling?”
But for Littler, it was no issue as he secured a Last-16 clash with James Wade on Saturday.
Littler, the world No.2, loved being called out by MC John McDonald for the first time on UK soil as the “reigning champion of the world”.
He said: “It felt amazing to hear the walk-on.
“Even when John McDonald called me the world champion for the first time out in Bahrain.
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“This is my first time and debut here, it’s a different format, it’s set-play.
“It has not sunk in yet being the world champion. I know it should.
“This is darts, we have to carry on for the next event, given all the travelling that we do. But give it a few months and it will settle in.
“I’m looking forward to the Premier League again. A long 16 weeks ahead. If I can guarantee the top I will go back to the O2 Arena and try to defend the Prem again.”
Scottish qualifier Cameron Menzies – who lives in the city of concrete cows with his partner Fallon Sherrock – shocked No.6 seed Dave Chisnall 3-1.
Luke Littler prize money breakdown
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:
World Championship 2025 – £500,000
World Championship 2024 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
TOTAL: £1.43 million