Luke Littler has been backed to ignore criticism and continue to show his emotion during his debut journey in the darts Premier League.
Darts referee Richard Ashdown doesn't want to see the teenager 'be a robot' after receiving criticism earlier in the tournament.
Littler has enjoyed a stunning rise to stardom in recent months after bursting onto the scene at the World Darts Championship in December.
He has already won two tournaments as a professional and has picked up seven points from the first four weeks in the Premier League.
Luke Littler has been urged to keep showing his emotion on the darts stage
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Night three in Glasgow saw him lose to Gerwyn Price in the quarter-final, the only time he has lost in that round to date.
The 17-year-old was visibly angry at certain points during the match and berated himself when he missed darts to clinch the deciding leg.
Ashdown says any criticism that came Littler's way after that match is unfounded because it was good to see him showing emotion.
The ref, who has also been a master of ceremonies and a darts spotter, says Littler must do whatever he wants as long as he is enjoying himself.
Speaking on the Love the Darts podcast, Ashdown said: "We want to see him enjoying it, don't we? He got some criticism I think in being disappointed in losing the week before.
"I mean, we want to see him show his emotion, we don't want him to be a robot. To me, first and foremost, he is enjoying the Premier League experience.
"Whether results in the end will get him down, or it's going to be dependent on whether he wins or loses at to whether he's ultimately enjoying the experience.
"But I just think he is so, so watchable in every way. The darts in the board, the way he does it, the emotion. We want to see him enjoy it."
Littler has had a few days away from competing but will be back in action on Thursday in night five of the Premier League in Exeter.
He faces 2023 world champion Michael Smith in the last quarter-final of the evening.
Last week, Littler lost in his semi-final against Michael van Gerwen, a third successive win for the Dutchman over the teenager.
Van Gerwen urged people to go easy on Littler after his rise to prominence in 2024.
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Luke Littler has been enjoying himself in the Premier League so far
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"He's a phenomenal player," Van Gerwen said. "He has a lot of talent and he has such a great career in front of him.
"But like I always say, get the pressure a little bit off him. Don't ask him too many stupid questions.
"Just let him enjoy what he does and it makes him a better player in the long run.
"He's a young kid. How much pressure everyone puts on his shoulders is insane.
Luke Littler has not been afraid to show his emotion in the Premier League
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"I know, as a player, how it is. I don't think it's fair on him. But that's my opinion.
"Let him enjoy his life. Let him do his own thing. If he puts his shoe on, puts his darts in the sand, put his finger in his nose, whatever he does, people speak about it.
"Of course that happens with famous people, but let him live his life."
