Fallon Sherrock beats Luke Littler to win £501,000 in Netflix show
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Fallon Sherrock defeated Luke Littler to win £501,000 and triumph in the first-ever ‘Beat Luke Littler’ show.
The ‘Queen Of The Palace’, who made headlines by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace back in 2019, produced a 14-dart leg to beat the world champion in the Netflix event.
Littler had beaten 14 ‘amateur’ players in a row in the single-leg format, on a night when any of the contestants could have won the prize of half a million pounds if they reached a score of 501 and produced a double finish before Littler.
The inclusion of Sherrock as one of the 24 challengers had created some controversy when the line-up was announced by Netflix earlier this month; other players included a bin man, a restaurant manager at Nando’s, a driving instructor, and an electrical engineer.
While Sherrock is used to performing on the big stage, with the 32-year-old qualified hairdresser becoming a fan favourite at Alexandra Palace and reaching the third round in 2020, the £501,000 prize is the biggest of her career.
The £501,000 prize is the second-highest single payout in darts, behind the £1m prize for the World Championship winner. Sherrock’s previous biggest payday was the £25,000 she won for reaching the third round at Alexandra Palace in 2020.
After winning the ‘bull-up’ to earn the first throw in the leg, Sherrock took control and raised the roof in Manchester by hitting five treble 20s in a row and leaving 43 to finish. She had two attempts at double top and found the target at the second opportunity.
“It’s insane, I can’t put it into words,” said Sherrock, who was also playing in front of her son, Rory, for the first time. “Especially having Rory here, it’s the first time he’s been to anything and he’s seen me win!
“I’m really lost for words but it’s a great moment. I’ll remember this forever. I’m like, if you give me an opportunity I’m going to take it every time. I don’t know what it is but I’m really proud of myself right now.”
Sherrock was able to take part as she does not hold a PDC Tour card, and took her chance after Littler had dismissed a series of low-ranked players and before teeanger Mitchell Lawrie, the top seed and WDF No 1, had made it to the oche.
Littler, the two-time world champion and world No 1, was far below his best in Manchester, hitting well below his usual average and managing just two 180s across the night. He had also faced a match dart during his leg against Ireland’s Pearse Mackle, who missed bullseye for £501,000.
Littler, 19, praised Sherrock’s performance and said: “Brilliant. That’s what one person had to do, win the bull and go out with 15 and that’s exactly what Fallon did. When she missed the first double top I thought, ‘give me a chance’. But she didn’t. World class.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s been good. Maybe we can do it again next year.”
The ‘Beat Luke Littler’ show was hosted by Gary Lineker and Richard Osman, who had predicted that one of the challengers would beat Littler.
“I would be shocked beyond words if we don’t give away £501,000,” Osman had said. “It’s really exciting. You’re going to see somebody throwing one dart for half a million pounds. That’s the only thing that makes me sort of hesitate in my judgement.
“I know those players good enough that one of them, out of 20, will beat him. He’ll have an off leg, they’ll have a good leg. But they are going to have to, in front of a big live audience, throw a single dart at a single double for £501,000. And is that humanly possible would be my question. It’s incredibly exciting.”
