Luke Littler has spoken out to explain exactly why he broke down in tears after his PDC World Championship win over Ryan Meikle.
Last weekend the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship tournament got underway at the Alexandra Palace in London.
After nearly a week of action, a tearful Littler got his bid for the world title underway as he beat Meikle in an exciting match on Saturday night.
And now, the 17-year-old darts sensation has spoken out to reveal exactly what caused his display of emotions after securing the win.
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After the match, Littler admitted that, despite coming within millimetres of a nine-darter in his first match of the tournament, he had massively struggled with nerves during the match, forcing him to walk away from his post-game interview.
Speaking to Talksport, the Englishman explained: "I drank my water and said to Abi that I was fine and let's do the interview, but as soon as she asked the questions, and the fans, it was a bit too much, so I just went off stage."
Littler admitted that the nerves and stakes of the game caused it to become the hardest darts game of his career.
"That was probably the most important game I've ever played," he confessed.
"All week I was excited to play on the stage with no nerves, i was just being myself.
"But as soon as I got on the stage I was like 'I don't want to be here'
"It was tough but I just dragged myself over the line.
"That first game is the most important of the tournament because then you can relax"
In the news conference immediately after the game, Littler further spoke about how he had struggled during the game, labelling it as the worst he has ever played.
He added: "It was probably the toughest game I've ever played. I had to fight until the end.
"As soon as the question came on stage and then boom, the tears came. It was just a bit too much to speak on stage.
"It is the worst game I have played. I have never felt anything like that tonight."
Topics: Darts, Luke Littler
Ben McCrum