Luke Littler scowled at the Premier League Darts crowd after he was booed for taking time to change his darts during his defeat against Stephen Bunting. The teenager, who was beaten in a deciding leg, was jeered throughout his match against the popular Bunting in Rotterdam. 

Littler found himself 5-2 behind against the 40-year-old but threatened to complete a hugely impressive comeback. The reigning champion and four-nightly winner triumphed in the next three legs. However, Bunting held his nerve to reach a second final in three weeks. Bunting had won over the crowd after being booed for beating home favourite Michael van Gerwen. He enjoyed most of the support against Littler. 

Heading towards a 4-2 scoreline in the six leg, Littler decided to change his darts. The world champion took his time to select the arrows he wanted to play with, much to the annoyance of those inside the Ahoy Rotterdam venue. 

Littler took exception to loud jeers from the crowd. Before taking to the oche, he turned to the audience and furrowed his brow with a bemused expression. The 18-year-old then gestured with his hand. He repeated the fierce glance later in the match when the momentum was turning in his favour. 

However, Bunting triumphed in the deciding leg to reach the final. It denied Littler a record fifth nightly win but he seems destined to achieve that feat with five nights remaining before the play-offs. 

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Marsden said: “Littler, he was a bit animated tonight. He was going against the crowd and then with the crowd. But he certainly found his rhythm at 5-2 down. It was like, ‘he’ll win this…’.

“But full credit to Stephen Bunting for that last leg, he held it together. The double 12 has been his friend this evening. The 81 that he took out against Michael van Gerwen, shot of the night. Absolute shot of the night.

“The crowd were giving the masses against him. He withstood it, took his time. I think Stephen, after getting that first win he could be a winner any week. He didn’t believe [he could win, but] stuck with it, and now he’s a believer.”

Bunting went on to face Chris Dobey in the final. It came after Gerwyn Price was left furious with the conditions in Rotterdam.