Luke Littler fought back tears after winning the Premier League Darts final, admitting that crowd hostility had nearly driven him away from the sport. The 19-year-old world number one defeated his great rival Luke Humphries 11-10 in a last-leg decider at the O2 Arena in London, reclaiming the title he lost last year and pocketing a £350,000 prize.
Littler, who also earned a record-equalling six nightly wins across the 17-week competition, took his total earnings to £410,000. However, he revealed that persistent booing and whistling from crowds had taken a toll. “It’s been a rollercoaster,” he said on stage. “After Brighton, I came off stage and in Manchester, I was sat at home saying to Faith: ‘I don’t want to do it any more. Just the crowd every week.’ I said to her: ‘I’m down bad.’”
The teenager had earlier survived a tense semi-final against Gerwyn Price, winning 10-9 after squandering six match darts. The match featured a flashpoint when Price, not on a finish, scored 170 and mimed reeling in a “big fish” while Littler was throwing. Referee Huw Ware reprimanded Price, who later apologised, but the Welshman repeated the gesture after hitting a 180.
Humphries, meanwhile, defeated Jonny Clayton 10-9 in the other semi-final. Clayton led 9-7 before Humphries levelled with a 121 checkout, missing a match dart at bull. Clayton then appeared to be put off by a whistle from the crowd as he threw for double 16, allowing Humphries to step in and win. Clayton gestured angrily towards the crowd before leaving the stage.
In the final, Littler came from 6-3 down to edge a thriller 11-10 against Humphries, his third straight meeting with the 31-year-old in the final. Humphries praised Littler’s resilience, saying: “It shows what it means to us as players, on the road for 16, 17 weeks, it’s hard work.”
