Luke Littler Channels Wayne Rooney as World Champion Learns to Live with the Boos

Reigning world champion Luke Littler was forced to dig deep in the opening round of the 2026 World Masters, surviving a match dart before battling past Belgium’s Mike De Decker 3-2 in a gripping contest.

The teenage sensation showed trademark resilience after being pushed to the brink, producing a composed comeback to book his place in the next round and underline why he remains the sport’s standout figure.

From golden boy to mixed reception

Yet once again, the darts itself was only part of the story. Littler was met with a mixed reaction from the Milton Keynes crowd, continuing a trend that has followed him since his rapid rise to the top of the game.

Once serenaded with chants of “there’s only one Luke Littler”, the world number one is now learning to cope with boos as well as cheers.

“Everything was going on tonight, boos, cheers, I just had to do my own thing. I need to learn from the worlds, don’t react too early. Even tonight I didn’t react during or after, I just got my darts and went off stage,” Littler said immediately post-match. 

Learning from Ally Pally

Littler admits his approach has changed following his much-discussed reaction at the recent World Championship, where he beat Rob Cross in a bruising last-16 clash at Alexandra Palace.

Now, the 19-year-old is determined not to let the crowd dictate his emotions.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Polly James after that Cross match, Littler made his stance clear.

“I’m not bothered, really I’m not bothered, really not bothered,” Littler infamously said on-stage. 

“Can I just say one thing? You guys pay for tickets, then you’re paying for my prize money, so thank you.”

A Wayne Rooney realisation

That moment marked a turning point for Littler, prompting him to reflect on how elite athletes deal with hostility, and drawing comparisons with one of his sporting heroes.

Wayne Rooney famously turned on England fans following a 0-0 draw with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup, expressing frustration at being booed. As he left the Cape Town pitch, he told a TV camera, "It's nice to see your home fans booing you," later apologising for the outburst. 

Littler revealed he stumbled across that clip shortly after his own outburst.

“You’ve seen it with Wayne Rooney, that clip was it at the World Cup. I’ve seen that on my TikTok literally I’d say a few hours after that Rob Cross game, which is pretty crazy.”

“Like I said, I think I’ve learned from the worlds, just don't react and I’ve just got to play my darts.”

Why the boos are growing

Asked why he believes the crowd reaction has shifted during his meteoric career, Littler offered a simple explanation rooted in sporting culture.

“I think people want to see new winners. I think people are getting bored of me, Luke [Humphries and Gian [Van Veen] winning.” 

“People can pick who they want to support, people can pick who they want to boo.”

Following in Phil Taylor’s footsteps

History suggests sustained success often brings hostility. Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor endured similar treatment during his era of dominance and consistently thrived regardless.

Taylor remains Littler’s darting idol, and while the pair haven’t discussed crowd reactions directly, support is never far away.

“I’ve not spoken to Phil about it. But he was with Target for many years, and obviously I’m with Target. Gary [Plummer] said to me if anything crosses my mind I can always go to him and get Phil involved if I'm struggling. But at the minute it’s just what it is, and it gives me extra motivation.”

For Littler, boos are no longer a distraction, just fuel for the fire.