Luke Littler urged to show ‘vulnerable side’ to get back on fans’ side after breaking down in tears at Premier League

LUKE LITTLER has been told to take lessons from his emotional Premier League final breakdown after revealing a side of himself darts fans rarely get to see.

The world No.1 was overcome with emotion after edging out Luke Humphries to reclaim the Premier League crown last week.

Littler burst into tears on stage moments after the dramatic victory, with Humphries immediately stepping in to comfort his rival as the post-match interview at London’s O2 Arena was brought to an early end.

The teenage sensation later admitted he had even considered quitting the sport after enduring months of boos and hostile treatment from crowds throughout the Premier League campaign.

Former professional Vincent van der Voort believes the pressure had been building for months before finally spilling over on the biggest stage.

Speaking on the Darts Draait Door Podcast, he said: “What an evening. It had everything from the very first moment, and the standard was fantastic as well.

“He kept everything bottled up throughout the entire Premier League, and then it all came out.

“At the World Championship, after the first round against Ryan Meikle, he also ended up in his mother’s arms in tears.

“So he understands pressure, but he never shows it.”

Van der Voort feels Littler has often tried to portray himself as unaffected by criticism, even though the reality has been far more complicated.

He added: “It is often an attitude he adopts. I think it is good to see him be vulnerable for once.

“Maybe people will understand him better now.”

The Dutchman also suggested the reigning world champion could have handled some media appearances more effectively during difficult periods.

“He has had opportunities in interviews to show a more human side, but he didn’t always manage that well,” Van der Voort said.

“You have to hope he surrounds himself with people who can help him with that and guide him in the right direction.

“Littler is only 19 years old, but he competes among adults.

“He is judged in exactly the same way as everyone else. People are not going to treat him differently because of his age.”

Van der Voort believes the emotional scenes after the final may ultimately help supporters appreciate what Littler has been dealing with behind the scenes.

He said: “That’s why it’s good to see that he showed his vulnerable side. Hopefully, he learns from it.

“I genuinely believe it has been tough for him. He was being booed every week, yet he managed to hide it extremely well.

“It looked as though everything just bounced off him.”

The former UK Open finalist also praised Humphries for the way he reacted after suffering a heartbreaking 11-10 defeat in the final.

He said: “That was a credit to the sport. He said the right things and took a moment to comfort him.

“I think a lot of players would not have done that. Many would still have been frustrated after losing.

“That final made up for so much. The only issue is that the sixteen weeks leading up to it felt far too long in this format.”