Sherrock defeats Littler to win £501,000 prize

Fallon Sherrock defeated reigning world champion Luke Littler in a darts contest on Friday, claiming a prize of £501,000. The event, broadcast live globally on Netflix, featured amateur players competing against world number one Littler in a one-leg face-off held at Manchester Central. As participants were not allowed to be members of the PDC Tour, Sherrock was eligible to compete. She made history as the first female player to defeat a male opponent at the PDC World Championship in December 2019.

After Littler's victory over 14 amateurs, some of whom were as young as 14, he faced a challenging match against the 32-year-old Sherrock, a player who has achieved 21 victories on the PDC Women's Series. Sherrock had the advantage of starting first after being the closest to the bull, hitting a 180—the third maximum of the night—before finishing with a double 20 to secure the win.

"It's insane, I can't put it into words what it means, especially having Rory here - it's his first time at anything and he has seen me win," Sherrock expressed after the match. "It's a great moment, and I will memorize this forever. Give me an opportunity, and I will take it every time. I'm really proud of myself; I rise to the occasion."

Littler, 19, who had won the PDC World Championship in both previous events, praised Sherrock's performance, stating, "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."

The atmosphere at the packed venue was lively, with many fans in fancy dress. There were 25,000 applicants for the event, where competitors were required to reduce their score from 501 in 24 darts or less before facing an interview panel that included 16-time world champion Phil Taylor. Twenty players were slated to compete, with some selected by popular vote from Netflix viewers. Sherrock triumphed in the voting against Germany's Jarod Becker, receiving 75% to earn her chance against Littler.

Previously, Sherrock had made headlines in December 2019 for her impressive run in the PDC World Championship, where she reached the last 32 and earned £25,000. She was later awarded an MBE for her contributions to the sport.

Sherrock's victory over Littler ended the event prematurely, meaning five remaining amateurs missed their opportunity to compete for the £501,000 prize. During the competition, 21-year-old Pearse Mackle of Ireland was another competitor who narrowly missed a victory against Littler, failing to hit a match-winning bullseye.

Overall, the night portrayed a new face of darts, with former England footballer Gary Lineker hosting alongside comedian Lee Mack and television presenter Richard Osman as part of the commentary team. From the outset, Littler showed dominance as he effortlessly dispatched his opponents, while Sherrock's performance ultimately pulled off a shocking upset, culminating in a surreal evening of darts competition.