Darts sensation Luke Littler has yet to respond to being dubbed 'Kebab Boy' by Michael van Gerwen as both players vie for a spot in the Premier League Darts play-offs.
Neither player was at their peak on Thursday night in Rotterdam, with Littler succumbing 6-3 to Michael Smith and 'MVG' letting down his home crowd by losing 6-4 to Luke Humphries. And The Daily Express reported how Van Gerwen is tackling any tensions with darts' new kid on the block amid their new rivalry.
With only four events remaining before the top four compete at the O2 Arena on May 23, Littler is currently second, tied on points with Humphries, while Van Gerwen is fourth. But despite the clear rivalry between the two generational stars at the oche, they seem to have a good relationship off-stage, with the teenager being greeted with a "Hey there, Kebab Boy" when he met the three-time world champion in the Netherlands.
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Speaking to the press before the tournament, Van Gerwen revealed he often refers to 17-year-old Littler by that nickname, disregarding the 'Nuke' moniker that has become synonymous with the young player.
"We are always egging each other on, and that's what I always call him,'' he stated. However, when asked if Littler had a nickname for him, the Dutchman joked that if the teen did, he would be too scared to say it.
"I don't know, but he doesn't dare say it yet, I think," said Van Gerwen. "I'm twice that boy's age, right?"
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Littler's love for kebabs became legendary during his extraordinary journey to the PDC World Championship final at Ally Pally in January. After his initial victory over Christian Kist, he disclosed that he celebrated the win with his favourite takeaway and a fizzy drink, leading to an influx of free kebab offers and sponsorship deals.
Littler and Van Gerwen have had their share of memorable moments this year, with the latter publicly cautioning the young player about facing disappointment on the PDC Tour once his apparent honeymoon phase concluded. In February, during a nail-biting Premier League semi-final in Newcastle where the score was tied at 5-5, Littler seemed to snub an attempted fist-bump from Van Gerwen, instead turning his back before the decisive leg.
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SkyHowever, the 34-year-old brushed off any suggestions of tension, despite acknowledging their significant age difference. But that doesn't mean conversation will turn to serious matters anytime soon.
"We just have a good relationship, but real conversations we haven't had," added the Dutchman. "I sometimes ask him something, it's always darts-related. So should I start talking politics with a 17-year-old guy? If you ask him about Manchester United, he knows everything. That's a generation gap."
The duo have faced each other eight times on the tour so far this year, with their head-to-head record level at four wins apiece. They are set to be on opposite sides of the draw when the Premier League heads to Liverpool next Thursday, meaning they won't meet at the M&S Bank Arena unless they both make the final.
