At the Belgian Darts Open on Sunday night, 17-year-old Luke Littler encountered a heated confrontation with his opponent, Ricardo Pietreczko, who branded him as ‘arrogant.’ Despite the tension, Littler emerged victorious with a 7-3 triumph over Pietreczko in their semi-final clash. Subsequently, he went on to beat Rob Cross in the final, securing his third professional title in an impressive debut on the European Tour.
Littler’s rapid ascent in the darts industry seems to have stirred some discontent, particularly evident in the post-match altercation with Pietreczko, also known as ‘Pikachu.’ The 29-year-old German confronted Littler after the defeat, engaging in a heated exchange that left an impression of discord within the darts community.
In response to the incident, Littler took to a darts Facebook group, expressing confusion about the confrontation: “No idea what I did wrong, no idea what he said. He said something then don’t do it again.” The young player’s rise to prominence appears to be accompanied by both accolades and challenges, making his journey in the darts world all the more intriguing.
The 17-year-old’s composed demeanor, often perceived as blasé, may have provoked Pietreczko’s reaction. Littler, who celebrated energetically after securing the final four legs to defeat his Polish adversary, admitted to practicing for a mere 20 minutes before his quarter-final win over Jermaine Wattimenta, citing his focus on watching Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Reflecting on his performance, Littler shared, “I only had 20 minutes of practice because I was watching the football! Everything went well, and when Jermaine put me under pressure, that’s when I hit my doubles.” He described a deliberate effort to slow down, compose himself, and avoid becoming overly fast during crucial moments in the game.
Pietreczko later took to Instagram, accusing Littler of arrogance. In his post, he acknowledged Littler’s skill but expressed a desire for arrogance to be punished. The tournament in Weize also saw Littler’s frustration when Krzysztof Ratajski drank from his water bottle during the second round, attempting to disrupt his focus. Despite the distraction, Littler managed to secure the win and explained afterward, “I saw him drink a bit of my water. I saw him do it again, so I just put it on the floor. Trying to get to me. If he is, then fair enough, I’m just glad to get the win.” The incidents further underscored the intensity and drama surrounding Littler’s performances on the darts stage.
Littler, not one to let things slide, took to social media to mock Ratajski, sharing a split-screen image of the incident with the caption: “‘0-0 drinks my water? 1-2 drinks my water? hmm… goodnight, see you all in the morning.” This post added a touch of humor to the episode, showcasing Littler’s ability to address on-the-field incidents with a lighthearted tone.
