Luke Littler revealed a late trip to the post office meant a frantic dash to Leeds before he secured a third consecutive nightly win at the Premier League.
The 19-year-old claimed a record-equalling sixth victory of the season on Thursday but arrived at the First Direct Bank Arena just under an hour before his first match of the evening got under way.
He admitted afterwards that a scheduled 3 p.m. departure from his home in Warrington was put back while an impromptu trip to sell off sporting memorabilia delayed him even more.
"I came straight from home," Littler said at a press conference. "I was supposed to leave for 3 p.m. but I wasn't ready, [his girlfriend] Faith wasn't ready and we were rushing about.
"We went to the post office, get those cards off eBay gone, getting all the shipping and tracking numbers [sorted]. That's why we were almost late but we got here on time.
"I was driving. It was a bit reckless but I had to get here. The [estimated] time [of arrival] just kept going up and up and up but I managed to get here at twenty to seven or quarter to seven."
As he was approaching the venue, Manchester United supporter Littler says he interacted with a couple of Leeds players who were in attendance for the night.
"I spotted Ethan Ampadu and the next person was Willy Gnonto and I beeped at them," Littler said with a smile. "I looked out my mirror, they were all looking and I just beeped again."
Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Luke Humphries -- all via last-leg deciders. Littler also defeated rival Humphries 6-5 in last week's final in Aberdeen.
"I've beaten them numerous times in last-leg deciders over the years, it helps me but also it might be in their head that I'm going to win it," Littler added.
"I might already have one over them before starting that last leg. If you beat them comfortably or you beat them in a last leg, it's always on their minds."
Later, an entertaining tussle between the top two in the world saw Humphries checking out 132 before Littler hit a 146 to level at 2-2.
There was almost nothing to separate the pair and Humphries missed a match dart before Littler brought the score level at 5-5 to reach a deciding leg.
The world No. 1 then checked out 26 to clinch his sixth nightly win, equalling his own record from the Premier League last year.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Littler said: "A very good night. I'm very happy with myself, I can go on to break my own record.
"That was obviously crucial seeing Luke miss for the match and then me pouncing on it. I think throughout the game we held pretty much all the way, Luke broke me and I broke back, or the other way around, but another good game between me and Luke."
Littler remains top of the table, now five points clear with two more nights to go before the playoffs later this month.
Asked about how he will stay focused, Littler said: "I've just got to keep going. Obviously my record is now up for grabs, I can go and beat my own record.
"Even the win against Jonny [Clayton], I knew I was a few points clear but I think I'm in the clear now and got to keep top spot."
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Littler's victory came on a night dominated by last-leg deciders, reaching the final with a nail-biting 6-5 semi-final win against rival Clayton, who has also qualified for the play-offs.
Littler also claimed a close 6-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen in their quarter-final clash, while Clayton beat fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price 6-2 at the same stage.
Humphries also claimed a tight win after beating Stephen Bunting 6-5 in their semi-final.
The world number two was a 6-5 victor over Josh Rock in the quarter-finals and Bunting beat Gian van Veen by the same scoreline in their last-eight contest.
Littler said: "I think every game went last-leg decider apart from the first game between Gezzy and Jonny, so definitely got their money's worth tonight!"