Fallon Sherrock beats Luke Littler to win £501,000 in Netflix darts event

Fallon Sherrock beat Luke Littler in a single leg to win £501,000 at Manchester Central on Friday, ending the Netflix event Beat Luke Littler after the world number one had defeated his first 14 challengers. BBC Sport reported that Sherrock completed the winning leg in 15 darts, securing the prize in the evening's 15th contest.

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The 32-year-old earned the right to throw first by getting closer to the bullseye. She then scored a maximum 180 and finished on double 20 to beat the reigning world champion. Her victory brought the event to an immediate close, leaving five other selected challengers without an opportunity to play for the money. Littler, 19, had won the previous two PDC World Championships.

Sherrock's place in the competition depended on both its eligibility rules and a public vote. PDC Tour members were excluded, but she was eligible despite her experience and 21 victories on the Women's PDC Series. Paired with Germany's Jarod Becker in a viewer ballot, she received 75% of the vote and advanced to face Littler in the live event, which Netflix broadcast globally.

BBC Sport reported that 25,000 people applied to take part. Applicants first had to finish a leg from 501 in no more than 24 darts, before successful players faced an interview panel featuring Phil Taylor, Barry Hearn and Laura Turner. Sixteen competitors were selected directly, while eight experienced candidates were paired for votes that would determine the other four places in the planned 20-player field.

Before Sherrock's breakthrough, Ireland's Pearse Mackle had come closest to stopping Littler. The 21-year-old university student from County Cavan missed a bullseye that would have won his match, hitting nine instead. Littler also produced a 12-dart leg against 14-year-old Jayden Walker, combining a maximum with a 158 checkout, the highest finish of the night.

Sherrock's son Rory was in the crowd for the victory. The payout surpassed the £25,000 she earned by reaching the third round of the PDC World Championship in December 2019, when she became the first woman to defeat a man in that competition. She beat Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic before losing to Chris Dobey during that run, and received an MBE for services to darts in 2023.