Luke Humphries had to battle against the crowd inside the 02 Arena for his Premier League play-off final against Luke Littler after being booed as he walked to the stage.
Littler and Humphries finished as the top two during the Premier League season and won their respective semi-final matches at the 02 to meet in another crunch final following their World Championship clash.
Humphries famously ended Littler's dream run at the Alexandra Palace to clinch his first World Championship crown a few months ago.
Littler has had his revenge since then having won six matches on the bounce against Humphries before that run came to an end on the European Tour last month.
Luke Humphries was booed by some of the crowd
REUTERS
But Littler's main aim all season has been to lift the Premier League title and the world No 1 was the last man to stand in his way.
The 17-year-old was first out with the 14,000-capacity crowd raising the roof as he walked onto the stage.
Humphries then followed, but he was brutally booed as master of ceremonies John McDonald began to read out his name.
Humphries appeared shocked at the boos as he bowed his head, but the boos were soon drowned out when his walk-on song 'I Predict A Riot' began playing.
The crowd quickly changed their tune as they loudly sang along to the Kasabian song while Humphries showed his class by greeting Littler with a warm hug on stage.
The two share a mutual respect between them with Humphries crediting Littler with the rise in popularity in the sport.
He said earlier this year: “I think Luke deserves all the plaudits he’s getting.
“He has achieved something that I don’t think we will ever see again.
Luke Littler was the popular choice with the crowd
REUTERS
"Luke is the star of the show at the moment, and I think we all accept that."
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