A tearful Luke Littler admitted that boos from the crowd had made him consider walking away before he defeated great rival Luke Humphries in an epic final at the O2.
Littler sealed a dramatic last-leg decider to regain his crown and pocket a £350,000 jackpot.
The world number one was subjected to pantomime-style booing and whistling from the 16,000-strong crowd at London’s O2 Arena. Yet the 19-year-old shrugged off the jeers, which have followed him in recent weeks, to reclaim the title he lost to Humphries in last year’s final.
It was the third successive meeting between darts’ top two in a final, and it was the Warrington thrower who fought back from 6-3 down to edge a thriller 11-10.
Combined with a record-equalling six nightly wins across the 17-week campaign, Littler has amassed an eye-watering £410,000.
But a series of controversial incidents – not least an on-stage argument with Dutch opponent Gian van Veen in Manchester – left him confiding in girlfriend Faith that the crowd reaction was taking its toll.
‘It’s been a rollercoaster,’ he said on stage. ‘The first four weeks I was at the bottom. On the fifth night I won my first. I had to pick myself up. I think I went to Brighton and had a 79 average.
‘After Brighton, I came off stage, and then in Manchester I was sat at home saying to Faith, “I don’t want to do it any more”. Just the crowd every week.
Luke Littler was emotional after winning the Premier League
‘I said to her, “I’m down bad”.’
The teenager then had to stop speaking as he welled up with emotion, before Humphries added: ‘It shows what it means to us as players. Being on the road for 16 or 17 weeks – it’s hard work.’
The victory followed a bad-tempered semi-final against Gerwyn Price, in which Littler squandered six match darts and allowed a 9–4 lead to slip.
There was a flashpoint midway through the contest when the teenager was angered by his opponent’s celebration. In the 15th leg, ‘The Iceman’ produced a 170 checkout – the highest possible finish in the sport – and marked it with a ‘big fish’ celebration, miming reeling in a catch.
Littler, however, had already begun the next leg and complained to referee Huw Ware after removing his darts from the board. At the end of the leg, Ware stepped in to issue a warning to Price.
The Welshman was apologetic, approaching Littler to exchange words and a conciliatory hug.
The incident came just weeks after Littler clashed with World Championship opponent Gian van Veen, after the Dutchman accused him of celebrating missed darts.
In the deciding leg, van Veen missed double 15 to win the match and turned towards the crowd before throwing again, seemingly frustrated by something Littler had said.
Combined with a record-equalling six nightly wins across the 17-week campaign, Littler has amassed an eye-watering £410,000
Littler paused, then gestured towards him as if urging him to hurry up.
Afterwards, Littler attempted to rally the crowd but missed his second and third match darts. As he walked away from the oche, he made a crying gesture in apparent response to his opponent, who would go on to win.
Despite shaking hands, Littler continued to fume as van Veen spoke in his direction, muttering to himself as he left the stage.
After the match, van Veen suggested Littler had been cheering his missed darts – an accusation that appeared to follow his initial miss.
Littler, who insisted he was merely trying to gee himself up in front of his family, later revealed the pair have still not spoken, though he expects them to move on when they next cross paths.
