Luke Humphries has issued a warning to darts enthusiasts that Luke Littler might consider leaving the sport if they persist in booing him. Littler, who recently broke down in tears following his victory over Humphries in the Premier League, disclosed his struggles with the audience, mentioning that he had contemplated quitting during the competition’s challenging early stages.
Expressing his emotional turmoil to his girlfriend, Faith Millar, Littler admitted, “After Brighton and the incident in Manchester, I was sitting at home telling Faith: ‘I don’t want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week.’ I confessed to her: ‘I’m down bad.'”
Throughout the 17-week competition, Littler faced jeers from the crowds after a confrontation with Gian van Veen in Manchester, a situation that visibly affected him. Humphries, his defeated opponent, has appealed to fans to cease the booing, emphasizing the significance of Littler to the sport.
Humphries stated to SportsBoom, “I think darts needs Luke Littler, Luke Littler doesn’t need darts. That’s the truth. I think everyone thinks he’s a robot. He’s not, he is a normal person, a good kid as well, I think that’s why he’s trying to show everyone that.”
Describing the Premier League season as a “rollercoaster,” Littler credited his family, friends, and girlfriend for their unwavering support. In a post on Instagram, he acknowledged, “This Premier League has been one of the toughest tests for me and wouldn’t have this without everyone by my side. Can’t thank you all enough for that. We did it.”
After clinching victory with a double 20 against Humphries, Littler displayed intense emotion and became teary-eyed during his post-match speech. Reflecting on the emotional moment, Humphries remarked, “What he said there would have been emotion. We never put the darts down because you’re not going to do that. This is the reason why he is here, because he’s such a great darts player.”
Littler, accompanied by his family, girlfriend Faith, and friend Angry Ginge, triumphed at The O2 in London, averaging 111.67 and hitting 12 maximums to claim the championship and £350,000 in prize money, avenging his previous final defeat by Humphries in 2025.
As the world No.1, Littler now joins darts legends Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson in winning the Premier League more than once, following his success in 2024.