Luke Littler has revealed he almost quit this year's Premier League Darts campaign after being crowned champion with an 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries at The O2 in London.
Littler has been booed for large parts of the 17-week Premier League season, particularly over the last two months following an incident in early April with Gian van Veen in Manchester.
Following his deciding leg win over Humphries in the Premier League Darts final on Thursday, the 19-year-old suggested the reaction from the crowds during those weeks made him not want to play, before the emotional interview with Your Site was cut short as he went to see his loved ones.
He said: "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'. I said to her 'I'm down bad'."
Littler highlighted the incident with Van Veen on Night Nine in Manchester where the pair clashed on the stage.
Amid a tense deciding leg, Van Veen missed a match dart before turning to find Littler celebrating in front of the home crowd, with the world champion then gesturing angrily at his opponent as he turned back to the oche.
Littler then missed his chance to throw for the match and Van Veen did not allow him another visit as he wrapped up the quarter-final win - but not before Littler made a crying gesture to the crowd, then exchanged a brief handshake with his rival.
The following week at Brighton, Littler was booed once again as he recorded his lowest PDC TV average in defeat to Stephen Bunting.
"It was a rollercoaster first four weeks, bottom of the table, but then the fifth night I won my first night. I had to pick myself up - some tough times," said Littler.
"I think I had a 79 average in Brighton or something like that and it was tough. But I am here with the trophy."
Humphries was gracious as ever in defeat and, after comforting Littler, described why such big moments are full of emotion, especially given the number of weeks the players put in to a Premier League campaign.
"It is emotional, you have seen it from Luke there. You are playing in big finals and it shows how much it means to us as players," he told Your Site.
"You are on the road for 16 or 17 weeks and I don't get the chance to take my family with me. You want that trophy in your hands.
"It was a great final, one of the best the Premier League has seen. I am proud that I made it a tough game."
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