Luke Littler gave the perfect response to critics by winning his first week in the Premier League and sending a message to his rivals.
Criticism of the 17-year-old had been described as 'very sad' by a former world No 1 ahead of his victory in Belfast.
Littler has taken the world of darts by storm since he burst onto the scene at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
He has already triumphed at three PDC tournaments, hitting a nine-darter in each of them, and has taken the sport to a new level.
Luke Littler has provided the perfect reply to his critics
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Littler knows that he will not always get things his own way and that was the case in Dublin earlier this month.
He lost in his quarter-final for just the second time so far in the Premier League, meaning he failed to pick up a point.
It saw the youngster fall out of the play-off places and he was still yet to win a night in the tournament.
Littler faced criticism online, with fans on social media claiming his 'bubble had burst'.
Ahead of the trip to Belfast last Thursday, Lloyd backed Littler to respond and hit out at those who doubted him.
Speaking on the Love The Darts podcast, Lloyd said: "I wouldn't panic about it at the moment, he took a week off and I think that was a good thing and a very mature thing to do because he's been doing absolutely everything since his fantastic run at the World Championships.
"It makes you think whether he's had a bit of time to sit down, relax, take everything in and regroup and carry on doing what he's doing.
"He's going to come back on Thursday night and come back fresh hopefully and he'll come back firing.
"You see people on social media saying the bubble has burst, no it hasn't! It's very sad."
Lloyd was proven to be right. Littler put on a show in Northern Ireland as he brushed aside Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall.
The quarter-final against Humphries could have gone either way as it went to a deciding leg but Littler used momentum from that win to spearhead victory later in the night.
It was the perfect way for him to reply to anyone who doubted him and a timely reminder of his qualities.
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Luke Littler bounced back to win a Premier League night in Belfast
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Littler now sits second in the table and is well-placed to push for a playoff spot with seven nights remaining.
Lloyd is also a fan of Littler's behaviour on the oche and says he is exactly what the sport needs.
He added: "Let's be brutally honest and a bit cut-throat about it, it's a 17-year-old lad, give him a bit of space.
"People are breathing down his neck for some unknown reason, he's a very very talented young man with a great career ahead of him.
Luke Littler is on course to finish in the Premier League play-off places
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"He believes and knows how good he is and he flaunts it a little bit, so what?
"You want that in life and in sport. You want somebody who is a bit showy and flash.
"I think he is going to get better, it's his first ever Premier League. There's no reason whatsoever why he can't make the playoffs."
Littler still has work to do to secure a place at the O2 Arena in May but so far has had an answer for every question thrown his way.