Fallon Sherrock has described her £501,000 triumph over Luke Littler as life-changing after rising above the criticism to claim victory on Netflix's new show on Friday night

Fallon Sherrock says her £501,000 windfall from beating Luke Littler will change her life, after she “overcame the hate” to win Netflix's 'Beat Luke Littler' on Friday night. The 32-year-old defeated the double world champion in a one-off leg of 501 to secure the extraordinary prize.

Only Littler has collected more from a single prize pot, earning £1million for his second World Championship triumph in January. Sherrock is familiar with making darts history.

Seven years ago, she became the first woman to win a match at the World Championship, reaching the third round before going on to break further barriers in the sport. Her inclusion in the Netflix event nevertheless attracted criticism, with some questioning whether her current standing warranted a place in the line-up. Sherrock qualified to enter because she does not hold a PDC Tour Card.

Make sure you never miss the latest news and opinion by making Manchester Evening News one of your Google preferred sources.

Certain viewers argued she should not have been permitted to take part in the event, which featured numerous unknown amateurs all hoping for a life-changing opportunity. Sherrock was previously awarded an MBE in 2023 for 'services to darts.'

While many praised her achievement in toppling Littler, others labelled the result 'a joke' and 'a farce.'

When asked about the negative reaction, Sherrock said: "I mean it's been tough. Because obviously I do see the backlash and I do see all the negative comments. But at the end of the day, I fit the criteria for this.

"I've never had a tour card, and I wouldn't class myself as a pro really, because all I do is just play darts for the enjoyment of it. I think people forget where I started off as well.

"When I won at the Worlds, I was still just doing WDF (World Darts Federation). I'm just so happy to overcome all the hate and win."

Sherrock was the 15th player to face Littler in a line-up that included WDF number one Mitchell Lawrie, Mark Pooke, who squared off against Phil Taylor in a professional event almost 20 years ago, and teenage talent Jayden Walker, who has previously taken a leg off Littler at an exhibition event.

The field also comprised a number of amateur players from all walks of life, among them a bin man, an Australian jockey and a Nando's manager.

Sherrock revealed she intends to use the prize money to provide a better life for her son, Rory. "I'll probably end up getting the house that he wants, stuff like that. As long as Rory is alright, that is my main focus for my future," she said. "This prize money is life-changing.

"It's definitely going to change my life. I feel like people think I have more money than I do, but I really haven't."

PDC chief Barry Hearn, who played a role in the audition process, stood by the selection of competitors and maintained that Sherrock was fully entitled to take part. When challenged over whether her inclusion was unjust, he flatly rejected the suggestion: "No, not at all. She's not a PDC Tour Card holder.

"She's entitled to enter. Why should she be denied? She's a well-known player and she's a very good player. But Mitchell Lawrie is a very well-known player and an excellent player.

"Do you want just a series of 20 matches where someone can't even throw a dart? No, of course we want excellence competing against excellence, and that's what it was all about."

He later tweeted: "Fallon is not a Pdc professional. Worthy winner of a life changing amount of money."

The show, which was broadcast globally on Netflix, marks yet another landmark moment for darts as the sport continues to draw in a broader fanbase in the wake of Littler's breakthrough onto the scene.

Hearn has no reservations about the profound effect the teenage sensation has had on the sport, acknowledging that the youngster has helped unlock an entirely new demographic.

"Luke Littler gave me the one thing I was missing, he gave me that young audience, and with it, all the benefits that follow," he said. "And one of those benefits is a company like Netflix seeing an opportunity, having the finance to do things that other people only dream about, and come up with innovative ideas.

"So the answer is three years ago, no, I didn't see it coming. Now I find myself saying, 'It's no big surprise'. It's a statement on where darts has become and what Netflix is contributing to the sports industry."

Sherrock had previously chosen to withdraw from darts and prioritise her wellbeing in 2023, after publicly disclosing that she suffers from a debilitating kidney-related condition.

Having returned to more regular competition, she will take to the oche at the PDC World Championships in December, having secured her place by finishing third in the Women's Series Order of Merit in October.