Luke Littler fought back tears as he revealed that the constant booing from crowds throughout the Premier League Darts season had almost driven him to quit the sport. The 19-year-old world number one secured a dramatic 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries in the final at London's O2 Arena, regaining the title he lost to his rival last year and pocketing a £350,000 jackpot.
Littler, who also earned an additional £60,000 from six nightly wins during the 17-week campaign, was subjected to pantomime jeers from the 16,000-strong crowd. However, he shrugged off the hostility to triumph in a last-leg decider. 'It's been a rollercoaster,' he said emotionally on stage. 'The first four weeks I was at the bottom. After Brighton, I came off stage and in Manchester I was sat at home saying to my girlfriend Faith: "I don't want to do it any more. Just the crowd every week." I said to her: "I'm down bad."'
Littler was forced to pause as he became tearful, prompting Humphries to acknowledge the mental toll of the tournament. 'It shows what it means to us as players, on the road for 16, 17 weeks, it's hard work,' said the 31-year-old. Earlier, Littler had survived a tense semi-final against Gerwyn Price, winning 10-9 after squandering six match darts from a 9-4 lead. The match featured a flashpoint when Price, not on a finish, scored 170 and mimed reeling in a 'big fish' gesture while Littler was throwing. Referee Huw Ware warned Price, who later apologised.
In the other semi-final, Humphries edged past Jonny Clayton 10-9 after a seesaw contest. Clayton led 9-7 but missed match dart at double 16, seemingly put off by a whistle from the crowd, allowing Humphries to level and then win. Clayton gestured angrily towards the audience before leaving the stage. Despite the controversies, Littler's triumph capped a remarkable comeback, having earlier confided in his girlfriend that the crowd's reaction was getting him down.
