Luke Littler fired back at jeering supporters after securing his spot in the World Championship quarter-finals on Monday evening.
The 18-year-old defending champion overcame Rob Cross 4-2 in a challenging last-16 encounter at Alexandra Palace, where portions of the audience directed boos towards him throughout.
When questioned about the hostile reception afterwards, Littler was unapologetic.
"I'm not bothered, really I'm not bothered," he declared. "Can I just say one thing? You guys paid for tickets and you're paying for my prize money - so thank you for my money. Thank you for booing me! Come on!"
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The world No 1's provocative response came after he celebrated his victory with animated gestures directed at the crowd.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Littler acknowledged the difficult environment he faced during the contest, describing the atmosphere as "hostile" and suggesting that the crowd was against him throughout.
"Nobody wanted me to win," the teenager claimed.
Luke Littler fired back at jeering supporters after securing his spot in the World Championship quarter-finals on Monday evening
|SKYSPORTS
His girlfriend Faith Millar, 19, was visibly on edge as she watched from the stands alongside his support team during the tense encounter.
The match proved far more challenging than the final scoreline suggested, with the former world champion Cross pushing Littler hard throughout their clash.
Cross, who claimed the world title in 2018 but has since slipped to 17th in the rankings, had the opportunity to draw level at 3-3.
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Luke Littler's response to those in Ally Pally booing him 👀 pic.twitter.com/QHszE1z4ua
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 29, 2025
PHowever, Littler demonstrated his class under pressure, claiming the final two legs to seal the set and the match.
The statistics highlighted the teenager's superiority on the night, with Littler hitting 17 maximum 180s and recording an average exceeding 106.
Cross, by comparison, managed an average of 98.lease write at least 4 paragraphs
Yet those impressive figures failed to capture the full drama of what proved to be a nerve-shredding contest between the pair.
The defending champion was forced to dig deep against his experienced opponent, who tested him throughout despite the gap in their current world rankings.
Littler's composure in the crucial moments ultimately proved decisive in advancing to the last eight.
Luke Littler embraced Rob Cross following his win at the World Darts Championship
|PA
The youngster returns to Alexandra Palace on New Year's Day, where he will face either Luke Woodhouse or Krzysztof Ratajski in the quarter-final showdown.
Reaching the last eight guarantees the teenager at least £100,000 in prize money, with a potential £1million windfall awaiting should he successfully retain his crown.
The reception he receives following Monday's confrontational display remains uncertain.
Littler's remarkable journey began two years ago when he burst onto the darting scene as a 16-year-old, captivating audiences worldwide and pocketing £200,000 as a beaten finalist.
He completed his fairytale rise last year, lifting the trophy and claiming the £500,000 top prize to cement his status as the sport's brightest young talent.
Michael van Gerwen was defeated on that occasion.