Luke Littler dealt an accidental snub to Michael van Gerwen but the Dutchman had the last laugh in their Premier League clash in Newcastle on Thursday.
The teenager left his opponent hanging as he went for a fist bump before the deciding leg in another tight contest between the pair.
Littler had beaten Peter Wright in a classic in his quarter-final, winning 6-5 after the Scot had missed a match dart.
Van Gerwen beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 in the last quarter-final of the night to set up a fourth match against Littler in 2024.
Luke Littler snubbed Michael van Gerwen as the pair prepared for the decider
Sky Sports
He had beaten the teenager on the last two occasions, including in the final of night two in Berlin a fortnight ago.
Littler has a habit of taking matches to a deciding leg and did so again in the semi.
Van Gerwen had darts to win 6-4 but Littler broke back and had the chance to throw for the match.
It is somewhat customary for players to fist bump when a match goes to a deciding leg.
Van Gerwen attempted to fist-bump Littler but the 17-year-old had his back to him and clearly forgot to do so in the moment.
The Dutch star attempted to style it out by appearing to touch his ear as Littler instead prepared for his throw.
The light-hearted moment was noticed straight away by Wayne Mardle and Glen Durrant on commentary, as well as fans on social media.
Mardle saw the funny side of it afterwards, saying on Sky Sports: “I’ve got to say, I could watch that all day long. He kind of embarrassed Michael.
“But if he had gone on to win the game, it would have been ‘Oh he out-mindgamed him, he did this, he did that’.
“It was just one of those things where… I shouldn’t laugh really! But it was the way Michael looked away, it’s like when you wave at someone.
“But Michael van Gerwen found a way there and the two double 18s under pressure had to go and they went.”
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Michael van Gerwen attempted to style it out as he was blanked by Luke Littler
Sky Sports
Fans on X also posted their reaction to the funny incident.
One supporter wrote: “Van Gerwen left hanging by littler, you love to see it.”
Another put: “MVG got left hanging by Littler lol,” while another said: “Not Littler leaving MvG hanging then…”
One more user posted: “Just tuned into Premier League, and MvG was left hanging by Littler, fist bump before decider.”
Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler shared a smile after their Premier League clash
Getty
Mardle believes Van Gerwen ups his game when he’s playing against the young star.
He added: “Beating Littler is Van Gerwen’s new thing, it’s what is really getting him going.
“I think there is a respect there where he is thinking, ‘I am going to be dealing with you for years’.”
Littler’s defeat in the semi-final means he leaves Newcastle with two points, taking his tally to seven in the tournament.
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