The Netflix show saw Luke Littler take on a number of amateur contestants who were trying win £501,000

Darts player Fallon Sherrock has taken to social media after her surprise defeat of Luke Littler in a Netflix stunt which saw her win a huge £501,000 cash prize caused a social media backlash. Yesterday's event saw Littler take on a number of amateur challengers who were trying to beat him in a single-leg 501 match.

If an opponent checked out before Littler then they would win the £501,000 and the event would be ended straight away. Taking on Littler in the 15th match of the night, Sherrock hit 180 followed by a double 20 finish in the 15-dart leg.

However, following her triumph last night she was hit by a wave of criticism online with much of it centred on whether she should have been eligible to take-on Littler in the first place.

After she took to Facebook to post a celebratory picture after her triumph, dozens of people replied calling out her role in the competition.

One user said: "I thought this was to watch non professionals play Luke???", while another said: "Pro against a pro. Thought it was meant to be amateurs."

However, criticism of her participation in the show had started before she had even participated in yesterday's Netflix show. Sherrock has previously picked up a number of honours and awards related to darts including winning the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay in 2022 and she has also been given an MBE for her services to darts. She has also played at the PDC World Darts Championship. But, Netflix's rules for the show stipulated that anyone who does not currently have a PDC tour card (meaning they are not a professional darts player) can take part in their competition.

As criticism around her triumph mounted, she spoke up to put her point of view. She told the Press Association: "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."

Meanwhile PDC chief Barry Hearn, who had been part of the audition process for the event told the Press Association that Sherrock's involvement wasn't unfair.

He said: "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."