Your Site Darts pundit Wayne Mardle hailed Luke Littler's honesty and talent after his thrilling 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries in the Premier League final.
and then became emotional in his on-stage interview as he discussed under-performing in Brighton earlier in the season, a week after being involved in an argument with Gian van Veen in Manchester.
The 19-year-old was knocked out in the quarter-finals on both of those nights and revealed after his triumph in London that he was considering his future at that point after booing from the crowd.
Littler said: "I was sat at home saying to [girlfriend] Faith, 'I don't want to do it any more, just the crowd every week'. I said to her, 'I'm down bad'."
Speaking following Littler's win over Humphries in the 17th week of competition, Mardle said the champion's admission of his struggles was a "step forward".
Mardle told Your Site: "There is more that goes on in a Premier League than just turning up week after week. It is a rollercoaster for every player, whether you are winning games or struggling.
"We know there are worse jobs but for a dart player this is an endurance test. This is the culmination of all that effort and it came out for Littler. He was inconsolable.
"No one is that strong they don't have doubts. He had doubts but came back. Owning up to that is a step forward for him. I have nothing but admiration for this teenager.
"We know how strong Littler is mentally but when you are feeling like you're public enemy number one, you can feel like you don't want to turn up. But he did turn up and this is the by-product of turning up.
"I love the family support he has. His mum and dad travel everywhere, as does Faith. That's so important.
"You are never on your own. I was fortunate that I never played this sport on my own as when you do it is a lonely place. I have seen people want to walk away.
"But Luke has one of the best support systems there is in darts. It is a family affair and he has a great team behind him.
"I also love the reaction [to winning the title]. We want to see more of that. We don't want to see someone win a trophy and be like 'oh, I've won another one, so what?' That is marvellous to see.
"Even though he has been so successful, it still means the world."
Littler began the year by retaining his World Championship title and went on win the Saudi Arabia Masters, Winmau World Masters, UK Open and Poland Darts Masters before getting his hands on the Premier League trophy for a second time.
Mardle added of the world No 1: "He has the belief, he knows he has the ability and somehow he finds it within to keep doing it.
"There is a point in everyone's career when they are at their peak. We don't know if this is the peak, we have no idea, but we know this is the peak level as Michael van Gerwen's peak, Phil Taylor's peak, was this kind of standard.
"It's good enough time and time again. When he can run riot, he is happy with that. When he has to fight back, he is happy with that. When it goes to a last-leg decider, he is happy with that.
"There are no weaknesses. Back-to-back world champion, then he wins the Masters, then the UK Open after being in trouble a few times. He was in trouble a few times in the Premier League and won.
"The kid is never beaten until you are shaking his hand and holding that trophy."
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