Luke Littler insists he wasn’t ‘looking for sympathy’ after breaking down in tears on stage at German Darts final
LUKE LITTLER vowed he wasn’t “looking for sympathy” after breaking down in tears on stage.
The teen sensation had to turn away from an interview after losing the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim on Sunday night.
Littler, 17, had just lost 8-5 to Peter Wright as the Scot reeled off six successive legs to take his first title of the year.
But there were sad scenes soon after as ‘The Nuke’ burst into tears during his post-match chat.
He said: “Fair play to Peter he’s played well all weekend and so have I. But I’ve got to take it on the chin.
“I have got to give a massive shout-out to my friend Ellis. He lost his dad I’ve known him since I was three or four.”
He later added on Instagram: “Not looking sympathy or anything I was just trying to say how my best mate has lost his dad at such a young age.
“I’ve known Ellis since we was both three, four and it’s been on my mind all week. He’s the strongest lad I know and I just couldn’t get the job done as I would have liked.”
Littler was also booed by the German crowd following his reaction to missing a crucial 150 checkout as Wright staged a remarkable comeback.
He angrily shouted at the crowd after a whistle appeared to put him off as he went for the double 15 to win the leg.
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He said: “He wouldn’t go away. I threw my best, he threw his best. It maybe would have changed on the 150 if no one whistled. But that’s what they do.”
Wright was clearly concerned at the end for his young rival. Littler stood with his back to the crowd during his interview.
The Scot said: “It definitely means a lot. Luke’s distraught there because obviously he’s already won two this year. He wants to win.
“He’s a fighter and a winner. He’ll be back, beating everyone up.”
Wright had earlier burst into tears on stage after beating Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
The two-time World Champ, who has endured a tough year of results, was overwhelmed by the German crowd chanting his name.
Wright almost averaged 109 to beat his old foe and said: “Obviously you’ve got to play well against Michael. He’s had his operation and stuff like that. He’s still playing good darts.”
As the crowd chanted, he started to cry and said: “I’m on the way back.”
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.