Luke Littler Wins Premier League 11-10, Reveals Crowd Boos Nearly Made Him Quit

10 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 28

An 11-10 win over Luke Humphries at London’s O2 gave Luke Littler a second Premier League title in three years, after which the 19-year-old broke down and said he had nearly walked away.
Brighton and a week-nine clash in Manchester pushed him to that point: Littler said boos, a row with Gian van Veen and hostile receptions in Rotterdam, Liverpool and Leeds left him not wanting to attend the next night.
The O2 crowd then cheered him through an emotional TV interview, and Littler said he hoped the reaction would mark a turning point in his relationship with fans; the title lifted his prize money to £410,000.
His victory capped another dominant campaign—top of the standings for a third straight year and six nightly wins again—and added the Premier League to his 2026 World Championship, World Masters and UK Open titles.
Wayne Mardle said the 17-week, eight-player roadshow can become an endurance test even for elite players, underscoring how Littler’s latest title came despite a season he described as mentally draining.

Will Littler’s emotional win mend his relationship with hostile crowds, or is this the new reality for darts' top star?

As fan hostility becomes part of the show, what is darts' responsibility to protect its stars' mental health?