Ricardo Pietreczko confronted Luke Littler after losing to him at the Belgian Darts Open in March 2024 and the German is back in the spotlight at the World Darts Championship
Luke Littler clashed with Ricardo Pietreczko in 2024 (Image: PDC)
Luke Littler’s mum wasn’t having any of Ricardo Pietreczko’s antics after a fiery clash with The Nuke following his World Darts Championship breakthrough. The thrower nicknamed ‘Pikachu’ is back at Ally Pally on Tuesday night.
The German has graced the PDC showpiece twice before, reaching the third round in 2024 before an impressive fourth-round run 12 months later. Pikachu saw off Xiaochen Zong, Gian van Veen and Scott Williams before Nathan Aspinall knocked him out.
He’ll face Jose de Sousa in the opening round this year and will need to be firing on all cylinders to topple the Portuguese crowd-pleaser. The 31-year-old is no stranger to confrontation both on and off the oche and in 2024 he locked horns with a rising Littler, prompting a reaction from the English star’s mum.
Shortly after Littler’s stunning run to the World Darts Championship final on his debut, he squared up against Pietreczko at the Belgian Darts Open in March 2024. Littler would eventually claim the silverware, but not before a tense onstage showdown.
The Nuke nailed D10 to seal a 7-3 semi-final victory, but when he extended his hand in sportsmanship, Pietreczko stormed towards him and appeared to unleash an aggressive verbal volley in his face.
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Following the defeat, Pietreczko took to social media without divulging exactly what he’d said to Littler, but posted: “I really appreciate the fact that he can play a game like that at such an age. But I hope his arrogance punishes him.”
However, Littler’s mum, Lisa, wasn’t phased by the incident. Darts pundit Wayne Mardle seemed to agree with a fan who suggested online that Littler “should have put the nut” on Pietreczko and Lisa’s response was telling.
Littler was taken aback by the confrontation(Image: PDC)
She used a laughing emoji, a dartboard and a happy face with hearts to react to the altercation. Clearly, Lisa was pleased that someone had defended her son and indicated that she and The Nuke were taking the situation in their stride. Pietreczko later apologised.
After his victory in Belgium, Littler addressed the incident, admitting he didn’t understand why Pietreczko reacted as he did. He told Sky Sports: “It has all come quicker than I even imagined for myself and my family.
The world champion’s mother reacted to the spat(Image: Getty)
“But I just have to thank myself for how well I played at the World Championships and then keeping this good form up. That game, I just, I didn’t know what I did wrong, but a lot of people were saying it was when I was on the 147 finish and I went for T19 and I tried going tops, bull, because I love tops and if I hit the tops I would have fancied myself for bull.
“But I missed it, but then he let that get to him throughout the game and I had a job to do. I think, ever since I have burst onto the scene, I know every player wants to beat me.
“Even my family and my manager have said you have always got to be on your A game because anyone who plays me now, it is a cup final to them.”
Littler Returns: World Darts Championship Preview 2026
Celebrate the festive season with this special edition previewing the World Darts Championship. Luke Littler became the youngest player to lift the title last year, and the teen is back to defend his crown at a sold-out Ally Pally – although he will be hunted down by rival Luke Humphries.
We hear from both players in a bumper preview which includes features on most of the leading contenders, interviews with Wayne Mardle, Emma Paton, John Part and Polly James, a look at the unknowns who will be in action plus an oche-full of other great content. Buy here
