Emotional Littler underlines greatness after almost quitting Premier League

Luke Littler captured his second Premier League Darts title, securing an emotional 11-10 victory in a dramatic final against Luke Humphries. The win came after a tumultuous period for the 19-year-old, who admitted he almost quit the invitational event due to intense crowd abuse and on-stage altercations.

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After Brighton [in week 10], I think I came off stage and the incident in Manchester [argument with Gian van Veen], I was sat at home saying to Faith [his partner], 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week'.

Littler revealed the extent of his struggles, particularly after week 10 in Brighton and an incident in Manchester where he argued with Gian van Veen. He described sitting at home with his partner, Faith, saying he no longer wanted to participate and felt he was "down bad." The atmosphere in Manchester turned against Littler, leading to a frosty handshake with Van Veen and subsequent weeks of boos, especially in Leeds due to his support of Manchester United.

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I said to her, 'I'm down bad'.

The teenager called the reception in Rotterdam the "worst I have experienced" and adopted a mindset of expecting the worst. He also described the fans as "fickle" for their mixed reactions. However, at the O2 arena, Littler was loudly cheered, breaking down twice during his on-stage interview. He later stated in a news conference that he wasn't seeking sympathy but wanted to share his feelings, emphasizing that the trophy was the biggest outcome and that he had proved everyone wrong.

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I'm not asking for sympathy - I just told the world how I was feeling during the Premier League. The biggest outcome is next to me [the trophy].

Despite finishing top of the Premier League standings for the third consecutive year and reaching the final for the third time, winning two titles, Littler confessed he had felt reluctant to attend the subsequent Premier League nights. He expressed his disbelief at winning, highlighting that he had to "get it done" even when he didn't want to go out. Littler concluded by stating that everyone has feelings, and he couldn't believe he had won.

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From the Brighton game, the Manchester game, I've proved everyone wrong once again and I can't believe it.