Luke Littler’s teary on-stage interview after Premier League Darts glory provided a public reminder of the untold struggles sports’ biggest stars often face away from their arenas.
Littler won the Premier League title for the second time in three years after a remarkable Finals Night at The O2, where the pipped Gerwyn Price in a final-leg decider in the semi-finals before beating Luke Humphries 11-10 in a dramatic final.
A final-leg victory over the defending champion avenged last year's loss to Humphries and ended a roller-coaster Premier League campaign for Littler, who overcame a slow start to claim six nightly wins and end the regular season in top spot.
The past year has seen darts' dominant force continue a trajectory from overwhelming fans' favourite to the player regularly on the receiving end of booing, with Littler's on-stage behaviour and previous comments - at times - fuelling some of the negative receptions he has received.
Littler was involved in a heated final-leg loss to Gian van Veen in Manchester on April 2 before posting the worst average of his Premier League career in Brighton the following week, with the world No 1 still feeling the repercussions of those two performances heading into Finals Night.
"After Brighton 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 [Premier League] anymore, just the crowd every week'," Littler told Your Site on stage, before crying. "I said to her, 'I'm down bad'."
There had previously been little public indication of any direct impact on Littler, who reached the next four nightly finals - winning three of them - and then rounded off the campaign with back-to-back semi-final finishes, although it took outright victory to reveal his true feelings.
"If I lost [Finals Night], no one would have found out about what I said on stage," Littler admitted in his press conference. "I just had to let it out and tell everyone. I wouldn't say this is perfect time, because you want to celebrate, but I just had to get it out there to everyone.
"I hope it [crowd booing is] a turning point. Everything I said on stage tonight, the tears, I'm not asking for sympathy, I just told the world. I told everyone how I was feeling during the Premier League and the biggest outcome [the trophy] is next to me."
Littler was comforted by Humphries immediately after the interview before speaking off-stage to his family and partner Faith, the only person he ever fully told about his Premier League unhappiness.
"I didn't speak to my mum or dad about it [struggles], maybe I should have, but I finally spoke to Faith about it," Littler later revealed to written press. "After Manchester, it was just a bad place. Then even after Brighton, it was just shocking, really.
"I'm glad that Faith was there to have that conversation. I just kept saying to her, 'I don't want to do it [Premier League], I don't want to do it'. She just kept repeating herself and I kept repeating myself. Didn't speak to anyone else.
"The crowd didn't have to carry it [booing] on for weeks and weeks and weeks. I kept winning most weeks, but the boos were still there, the whistling was still there. I just need to forget about all that now and take the trophy home."
Littler's latest success continues a remarkable winning streak in the PDC's biggest events, having already defended his world title at the Alexandra Palace before claiming the Winmau World Masters and UK Open this year.
One of the sports' all-time greats questioning their enjoyment in the game is something world No 2 Humphries can relate to, having experienced his own previous hostile receptions after reaching the top of the world rankings.
"He [Littler] never would have put the darts down because you're not going to do that - that's the reason why he is who he is, it's because he's such a good dart player," Humphries insisted in his press conference.
"I've had it before for no real reason. I had the crowd on my back after I beat Luke [Littler] in the World Championship. Everyone just hated me for no reason and it's hard.
"You're at home and you don't actually want to go and play darts, because it kind of feels like everyone just hates you and doesn't want to see you play. I know what he's going through but we all do want to see him play.
"Darts needs Luke Littler, Luke Littler doesn't need darts. That's the truth. Everyone thinks he's a robot but he's not. He is a normal person and a good kid as well."
Littler himself is aware of the historical perception associated with athletes - especially male - discussing feelings, with the 19-year-old receiving praise from both pundits and fans for addressing his emotions.
"I mean, we've all got feelings, not just as dart players - we're just humans," Littler explained. "We just want to get on with our lives and, honestly, I can't believe I've won."
He later added: "Us men, we don't want to really talk, but I had to speak to Faith and tell her how I was feeling."
On whether Littler would consider seeking advice from elsewhere, he said: "I've always said to myself that I just don't want to speak to a random person. They might give you the best advice, but I've always just said just try and keep it in or just speak to the good ones."
Littler already has eyes on building on his Premier League win, with a World Cup of Darts return alongside Humphries and a World Matchplay title defence - both live on Your Site - among those next on his radar in the coming months.
"Definitely [winning the Premier League] is a massive relief. It has been long - my adrenaline is so gone. But yeah, I definitely have to celebrate."
Littler will be overwhelming pre-tournament favourite every time he steps on stage for the foreseeable future. Time will tell whether the emotional Premier League success translates to a more positive reception from those watching on.
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