The Premier League Darts delivered a spectacular finale last week at The O2 Arena in London. All three matches went right to the wire, the standard was exceptionally high, and in the end it was Luke Littler who claimed the title for the second time. Yet the post-match conversation focused at least as much on the 19-year-old world champion’s emotions as on his performances on stage.
During his interview after the final win over Luke Humphries, Littler couldn’t hold back the tears. For the first time since his breakthrough, “The Nuke” openly let his emotions flow. On the podcast Darts Draait Door, Vincent van der Voort responded with understanding to that moment. “What an evening,” said Van der Voort and host Damian Vlottes as they looked back on Finals Night. “It had everything, from the very first moment, and the level was fantastic as well.” According to Van der Voort, all the built-up tension finally came out of Littler. “He bottled everything up throughout the entire Premier League, and now it all came out. At the World Cup, after the first round against Ryan Meikle, he also fell into his mother's arms crying. So he knows pressure, but never lets it show.” The former top darter believes Littler presented himself as mentally stronger than he actually felt during the season. “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.”
In sporting terms, Littler delivered another outstanding Premier League campaign, but he faced considerable hostility from the crowd along the way. Especially after his much-discussed clash with Gian van Veen in Manchester, the mood frequently shifted. On multiple nights, the young Englishman was booed and jeered. Afterward, Littler even admitted that during the season there were moments when he wondered whether he still wanted to keep playing. According to Van der Voort, the Englishman could at times have handled that better in his communication. “He has had plenty of interviews to make it more human; he didn't handle that skillfully,” said Van der Voort. “You have to hope that he will gather people around him who can help him with that and make him see the light.”
At the same time, Van der Voort understands the pressure is immense for a 19-year-old who has become the face of the darts world. “Littler is only 19 years old, but he plays among adults. He is judged on that just like everyone else; it’s not like he should be viewed differently because of his age.” That is precisely why Van der Voort felt it was positive that Littler finally showed a vulnerable side. “That’s why it’s good to see that he showed his vulnerable side; hopefully, he learns from it. I truly believe it must have been tough for him; he was booed every week. He managed to hide it very well. It seemed like everything just slid right off him.”
Van der Voort also had glowing words for runner-up Humphries. The world number two responded with remarkable sportsmanship when Littler became visibly emotional on stage and immediately reached out to support his compatriot. “A credit to the sport,” Van der Voort called Humphries. “He says the right things and comforts him for a moment. I think a lot of players wouldn't have done that. They would have been heavily irritated that they had just lost.” Despite his criticism of the current format, Van der Voort ultimately looks back on the Premier League campaign with mixed feelings. The spectacular final night, he said, provided a fitting ending to a long season. “That final made up for so much,” he concluded. “It's just that those sixteen weeks leading up to it dragged on too long in this format.”
