Teen Sensation Luke Littler Opens Up on Mental Struggles After Premier League Darts Triumph

LONDON: Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler broke down in tears after winning the Premier League Darts title, revealing he had questioned his future in the sport due to persistent abuse from fans during the season.

The 19-year-old edged past Luke Humphries in a dramatic 11-10 final at London’s O2 Arena, securing the prestigious title and a £350,000 prize.

Littler celebrated emotionally after sealing victory with a double top finish, but moments later appeared overwhelmed as he leaned against a wall away from cameras before becoming tearful during his post-match interview, which was paused twice as he struggled to compose himself.

Describing the season as a “roller coaster,” Littler admitted the relentless pressure and hostile crowd reactions had taken a serious emotional toll on him.

“The first four weeks at the bottom, on the fifth night I won my first night. I had to pick myself up,” Littler said.

Reflecting on difficult moments during tournaments in Brighton and Manchester, the young star disclosed that he even considered stepping away from the game.

“After Brighton and the incident in Manchester, I was sat at home saying to Faith [his partner]: ‘I don’t want to do it any more, just the crowd every week,’” he revealed.

Littler stressed that professional players also struggle emotionally despite their public image.

“We’ve all got feelings, not just as dart players, we’re just humans,” he said while thanking his family and girlfriend for their support throughout the challenging season.

His mother and partner were seen crying in the crowd during the emotional interview, while Humphries comforted Littler before conducting his own media duties to allow the teenager time to recover.

The rising darts star faced criticism and boos during several Premier League events, including in Rotterdam following a disagreement with Dutch player Gian van Veen. He also clashed with sections of fans during the World Darts Championship earlier this year after responding to boos following a win over Rob Cross.

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle said the Premier League schedule places enormous mental strain on players due to constant travel and weekly competition across Europe and the United Kingdom.

“We know how strong Luke Littler is mentally, but when you are feeling like you’re public enemy number one, you can feel like you don’t want to turn up,” Mardle said.

Despite the emotional challenges, Littler completed a remarkable turnaround to capture one of darts’ biggest titles, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.