Luke Littler lifted the lid on what Michael van Gerwen told him after his historic victory in the World Darts Championship final on Friday evening.
Having come up short in last year’s final on debut, Littler returned to Ally Pally a year on as the favourite after a remarkable first year in the sport.
And the 17-year-old made no mistake this time, coasting to a superb 7-3 victory over the World No.3 van Gerwen to claim the Sid Waddell trophy and the £500,000 winners cheque.
It was a darting masterclass from the Nuke who stormed into a 4-0 lead courtesy of some clinical finishing on the outer ring.
Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion in his own right, put up a valiant resistance but was no match for Littler who eventually pinned D16 for the first time in the match to win the world title.
The teenager was immediately overcome with emotion, letting out a huge roar before being reduced to tears as the enormity of his achievement began to sink in.
Littler was immediately congratulated by Van Gerwen after his victory, with the new World No.2 revealing afterwards what the Dutch star whispered in his ear following his win.
‘(Straight) after, I think he said ‘well done’ but when we were on the side, obviously he’d seen me crying and he was like: ‘Keep crying boy, keep crying’.’
Asked about Van Gerwen’s performance in this tournament, Littler added: ‘He deserves quite a lot of respect for this World Championships.
‘Obviously everyone was looking at me and Luke Humpries but if you look at Michael’s side of the draw it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t easy for myself.
‘For us two to get to the final was a big achievement but for me to come out as the winner, it’s even better.’
While his immediate plan was to return home for some much-needed rest, Littler revealed that he hoped to soon take his new trophy on the road to Old Trafford, the home of his beloved Manchester United.
‘If they allow me to then, I am sure I will go to Old Trafford,’ he said.
‘I am glad I beat Stephen (Bunting, a Liverpool fan) in the semi-final because I am pretty sure he was taking it to Anfield on the weekend.’
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, was made to rue a slow start at Ally Pally but paid tribute to Littler’s remarkable talent having seen his record as the youngest-ever world champion smashed this year.
‘Fair play to him, every chance he got, every moment he had to hurt me, he did it. I sometimes say that every 17 years a star gets born, and he is one of them,’ he told Sky Sports after his defeat.
‘He did well and he deserves it. Of course it hurts, but that’s how it should be. If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not going to be a sportsman.
‘It is what it is at the moment and I have to move on, I have to make sure I keep playing better. I’m an old b****** compared to him! I have to take this on the chin. I wasn’t sharp enough at the beginning of the game.’
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