Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler shared a private moment after the 17-year-old became the youngest player to win the PDC World Darts Championship
Michael van Gerwen urged Luke Littler to release his emotions when spotting him crying moments after winning the PDC World Darts Championship.
The 17-year-old dismantled the three-time world champion 7-3 in Friday’s final to break Van Gerwen’s record as the youngest player to be crowned champion.
After pinning double 16 to claim victory, Littler was reduced to tears during his celebrations and was promptly greeted by the Dutchman, who embraced the teenager and offered up a few words of advice.
During his post-game press conference, the world champion was asked what the 35-year-old had told him, with Littler admitting Van Gerwen said: “Keep crying boy!”
He explained: “After it I think he said, ‘Well done’, but when we were on the side, he obviously saw me crying he said, ‘Keep crying boy!'” The Dutchman – who has yet to add a fourth world title since his last in 2019 – showered Littler with praise after his defeat.
“I’m 35, he’s 17. Every 17 years, a star gets born,” the Green Machine said. “He deserves it, he played well. It hurts, but that’s how it should be. If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not going to be a sportsman. I have to move on and make sure I keep playing better.”
He lamented his slow start that saw Littler breeze into a 4-0 lead, which proved to be insurmountable. “I went 4-0 behind and after that I thought I wasn’t doing myself any justice, but that’s the way it is,” he admitted.
Order your souvenir 48-page publication celebrating Luke Littler’s historic World Championship win now. Buy now on our online shop!
“You need to try to fight and battle back and I think after going 4-0 down, I was definitely not the worst player out of us. But fair play to him, every chance he got and every moment he had to hurt me, he did.
“I had a lovely tournament and I enjoyed every moment of it. We all know I’ve come from a far distance and I’ve been battling my own game, but at the beginning of the game I was letting myself down too much and when you do that against a player with his ability, you’re going to be in trouble.
“You have to take it on the chin, move on and walk off the stage as a champion. I always take my hat off to the people that beat me and if they beat me in a good game, fair play to them. That’s how sport works.”
