Luke Littler handed cheeky two-word nickname by darts rival Michael van Gerwen

19 April 2024 , 21:21

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Michael van Gerwen speaks with Luke Littler (Image: Getty Images)

Darts phenom Luke Littler has been dubbed 'Kebab Boy' by Michael van Gerwen.

The pair haven't seen eye-to-eye since Littler's ascent into the centre of the darts universe, and there has been tension and a growing rivalry between the pair.

Both fell short in the Premier League darts 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.

Now the pair are set to face off in Liverpool next week, 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 leader Humphries, while Van Gerwen is fourth.

But it seems tensions have dissipated between the two generational stars at the oche, with the teen being greeted with "hey there, Kebab Boy!" when he met the three-time world champion in his homeland.

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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?"

Michael van Gerwen insists there is no tension between he and Littler (PA)

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.

Despite previous tensions, Van Gerwen, 34, has brushed off claims their relationship is a sour one, insisting it's down to little more than an age gap.

"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.

Fraser Watson