Legend John Part says teenager Luke Littler has to live with a “ridiculous” level of pressure as he bids to win his first World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Littler came within a millimeter of nine darts as he beat Ryan Meikle in record fashion on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old returned to the big stage 12 months on from his remarkable debut run to the final and showed everyone why he is the favorite to win the title this year.
Littler was on the verge of darts perfection when he missed double 12 but in the final set he threw an astonishing 140.91 average to win 3-1.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The teenager won the final set against Meikle with just 32 darts and advanced to the third round
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Littler reflects on his 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle in the World Darts Championship opener
That's the record for the highest average in a single set at the World Championships as the Warrington ace continues to break barriers.
The win was extremely emotional for Littler, who cut his onstage interview short after breaking down in tears.
“I don't think anyone can understand how much pressure is on him,” Part said Sky Sports. “There may be a few people who have played the game who might understand it, but surely no one has ever faced it at his age.
“Just the sheer amount of demands on his time and any chance he might not perform, I think it's really weighing on him. I'm sure there's so much relief for him.
“I'm sure he's disappointed he missed 9 darts, but I don't think that has anything to do with the release at the end. I think it's healthy enough.
“You've got a lot of emotions built up there, and you have to control that when you're playing. That's why he's a winner. You know what, if he has to have some time for himself afterwards, then that's fine.”
Littler arrived at the tournament as the biggest name in the sport, with 'The Nuke' booking his return to Ally Pally after Christmas against either Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White in the third round.
“He was having fun, probably going to all these new places, playing in these tournaments he hadn't played in before, winning a lot of them, playing a lot of matches,” Part continued. “If you like to play darts, playing a lot of matches is fun.
“He had a great time, but I think the whole reality of what he did for the game starting at last year's World Cup finally kind of hit him after the win.
“It's great that it wasn't after the loss because it just wouldn't have seemed fair after everything he did for the game.
“It occurred to me watching Luke that none of his match experience last year helped him, I don't think so, because I think he's a completely different player now. He has different expectations of himself and of the opposition, what they're going to do against him.
“There was a kind of awkwardness last year when I played the then 16-year-old and the players didn't know what to make of it. 'Am I going to be embarrassed if I lose, maybe?' Those old-fashioned ideas, isn't it this year – he's the favorite of the tournament?
“He's a darts god in the eyes of a lot of people that they've been waiting for. That's so much for him. I think this was the first experience of his real professional career at the world championships.
“The expectation levels, the ridiculous level of pressure he's going to have to live with. It's not going to go away, it's going to be every time he plays, but he's going to get conditioned, I'm sure.”
Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports
Luke Humphries is aiming to defend his World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
See all the action at 2025 PDC World Darts Championship from Alexandra Palace onwards Sky Sports Darts as Luke Humphries defends his title with Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson all challenging 'Cool Hand' for the Sid Waddell Trophy – and here you can enjoy the best.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports' dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and other top sports with SADA.