Fallon Sherrock defeated reigning world champion Luke Littler in a single leg of darts on Friday to claim a £501,000 prize. Broadcast live globally on Netflix, the “Beat Luke Littler” event featured a host of amateur players taking on the world number one in a one-leg face-off at Manchester Central.
The Road to Victory
Players could not be members of the PDC Tour, which allowed Sherrock to compete. She previously became the first female player to beat a male opponent at the PDC World Championship during a run to the last 32 in December 2019 and has won 21 times on the PDC Women’s Series. After Littler defeated 14 amateurs, some as young as 14, he faced a tough challenge against the 32-year-old Sherrock. She had been closest to the bull to start first and hit a 180, marking only the third maximum of the night, before taking out double 20 to clinch the prize.
Sherrock, whose son Rory was among the crowd, said: “It’s insane, I can’t put it into words of what it means, especially having Rory here – it’s his first time at anything and he has seen me win.” She added: “It’s a great moment and I will memorise this forever. Give me an opportunity and I will take it every time. I’m really proud of myself, I rise to the occasion.”
Nineteen-year-old Littler, who won the PDC World Championship in each of the past two events, stated: “Brilliant, that’s what one person had to do – win the bull and go out in 15 [darts] and that’s what she did, world class.”
A Unique Tournament Format
The competition drew 25,000 applicants. The first stage required players to get down from 501 in 24 darts or less, with successful players then facing a three-person interview panel consisting of 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, PDC president Barry Hearn, and darts television pundit Laura Turner. Twenty players were scheduled to play, with 16 selected outright and the eight most experienced players paired off for a Netflix viewer vote. Sherrock secured 75% of the vote against Germany’s Jarod Becker to earn her place against Littler. Her victory immediately ended the event, leaving five remaining amateurs unable to compete for the prize.
Amateurs and Entertainment
The event was hosted by former England footballer Gary Lineker, with comedian Lee Mack and television presenter Richard Osman joining Turner on the punditry team. Among the challengers was Ireland’s Pearse Mackle, a 21-year-old university student who narrowly missed a match-winning bullseye. Other entrants included 16-year-old Kasey Smith, 14-year-old Jayden Walker, 18-year-old binman Taylon Forrester, jockey Zac Spain, Theodore Wallich, 57-year-old Mark Pooke, 14-year-old Makinley Cooper-Johnson, and Will Kemp.
With Littler on stage for more than two hours, his standards eventually dropped due to fatigue, allowing Sherrock to capitalize with a 15-dart leg in match number 15. Barry Hearn returned to the stage to present Sherrock with a giant novelty cheque for her victory.
