"Was robbed her chance to make the money she should've done": Fallon Sherrock winning Beat Luke Littler a redemption arc after post history making plans spoiled

Beat Luke Littler was a polarising topic, as Fallon Sherrock managed to win the event and £501,000 after her inclusion was criticised in the first place due to her previous history of making exploits and her not being an amateur, per se.

But for some it was an issue, and for others, it proved to be a heartwarming story, as she was joined by her son Rory on stage and managed to win £501,000. But how did our editors see the event, both the good and the bad, and where could it improve?

Was Sherrock right to even be playing in the first place? How was the production and presenters, and should we get the Beat Luke Littler 2 that the man himself mused should happen?

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com, doesn't begrudge Fallon Sherrock winning it.

"I took in Beat Luke Littler penning the piece for DartsNews, and it was both good and a bit excruciating. Gary Lineker did not work as a presenter, and it reminded me of Caroline Barker at the Champions League of Darts when she said a nine-darter was 180, 180, 180. Saying that legs were frames, not calling players by their proper names, and being very much a textbook – let's bring a big name in to host from another sport who doesn't particularly know the sport.

"Other than that, the presenting team was superb. Having great minds like Rod Studd and Chris Mason suited the event, while Laura Turner is a dab hand at this by now, given her role on Sky Sports. Lee Mack adds comedic timing and knows darts, while AngryGinge adds the element of knowing Littler well personally too.

"But the format for me works, and it doesn't. It gave credence, in my view, to the need for a darts Royal Rumble/more different types of events where the winner stays on, and I think the venue itself suited darts well. The whole in-between-leg pandering, though, left it to become a bit of a non-event at times and needs streamlining if done again.

"Fallon Sherrock was the victor, and I disagree with the criticism she has received from junctures of the darting landscape and find it actually quite lazy. Sherrock took her chance as a player who has never even held a tour card and someone who rises to the occasion. If it wasn't her, it perhaps would've been Mitchell Lawrie or even Ashley Coleman, who have been top talents in the past, and would Lawrie get the same amount of criticism? Similar but not really.

"Sherrock was robbed of her chance really to make the money she should've done due to COVID after being heralded into the spotlight, and so for me, I don't begrudge her doing this for her family and for her son. It also shows how far this beautiful sport has come, that we are now in the minefield of specials like this being produced. As someone who has covered darts for close to a decade, it would've been an alien thought back then. So while it was tedious at times, I'd love to see more in a similar vein."

Lucas Michael, editor of DartsNews.com, was mixed on even having the big names in the first place but got why.

"Whether you love or loathe Beat Luke Littler, you cannot deny how good it is for the sport. If not, are you even a darts fan?

"Look at the bigger picture. Since his arrival on the scene at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, Littler has sent darts places that he has never been. A 19-year-old kid who is winning everything the sport can offer continues to go from strength to strength.

"From prize money to be increased to more tournaments being added, the PDC have been trying their best to keep up with the ‘Littler Effect', and, for the time being, that has culminated with a Netflix show hosted by Gary Lineker and Richard Osman. ‘The time being' is mentioned because who knows what he will spearhead next?

"Beat Luke Littler is not meant to be everyone’s cup of tea. Personally, it did not intrigue me despite being plastered with social media promotions by Netflix. What this does show is that darts has found a lucrative spot in the mainstream and is now a household topic. People do not just turn it on when the PDC World Darts Championship is on. Darts has gone crazy, and all thanks to Littler.

"As for the event, it is the first of its kind, and mistakes along the road are likely, but the false advertisement from the start irked a lot of fans. I am on the fence with the lineup. As funny and entertaining as it would be for 20 random bumbling pub players to take to the Oche against the world number one, they would most likely not make it past 301, let alone take out 501. That is where the likes of Fallon Sherrock and Mitchell Lawrie come in, but that seems too much as well. It was obviously going to occur with Netflix trying to make as much money and get more viewer attention; another example is Darts moving into the mainstream.

"Where credits were due, that leg by Sherrock was very commendable. That was the risk with the show. Littler is good but also human. He was bound to have an off-leg, and fortunately for the show, it was getting to the latter stages. While Sherrock maybe should not have been one of the challengers, she did manage to take a leg off the two-time world champion and reaped the rewards.

Mats Leering, editor for DartsNieuws.com, believes the PDC would have been licking their fingers at the thought of Sherrock doing it.

"I think Beat Luke Littler was a huge success. Although I have to admit that, personally, I didn't feel it added much in terms of entertainment, I believe it was a massive commercial hit. The fact that Fallon Sherrock, of all people, ended up being the one to beat Littler made it an even bigger story. From the PDC's perspective, I don't think the evening could have worked out any better.

While many expected Littler to comfortably win leg after leg, it quickly became apparent that the breaks between matches made it difficult for the world champion to find his rhythm. There were plenty of wayward darts, and he simply wasn't anywhere near as sharp as we've become accustomed to seeing. By the time Sherrock stepped onto the stage, I already had a feeling she would be the one to beat him. And if she hadn't managed it, I reckon Mitchell Lawrie would have got the job done.

For Sherrock, this is yet another enormous boost to her career. After making headlines around the world with her historic performances at the World Darts Championship, she has now pocketed more than half a million pounds by defeating the best player on the planet. There's little doubt that this achievement will open even more doors for 'The Queen of the Palace'.

So, while I personally didn't find the event particularly entertaining, I think it was an overwhelming success for the PDC, Netflix and, above all, Fallon Sherrock.

Nicolas Gayer, editor for DartsNews. DE called the event a breath of fresh air on paper and lauded Sherrock.

"I'll keep this one brief, as I don't have a huge amount to say about the event itself. One thing I will say, however, is that I was genuinely impressed by the production. The venue itself, the punditry panel, the walk-on tunnel positioned directly behind the centre of the stage and, of course, the high-quality broadcast and camera work you would expect from Netflix.

"And that is exactly why I am generally quite open to events like this. They do no harm, and at their best, they can bring a breath of fresh air to a sport where the presentation tends to look pretty similar from one event to the next. Netflix entered the world of darts broadcasting as a complete newcomer — and approached the whole thing with a fresh perspective. I really liked that.

"As for Fallon Sherrock, all I can say is: hats off. Half a million pounds on the line, and all the “Queen of the Palace” needed was two darts at tops. Once again, she proved that she was made for the biggest stages. While the Englishwoman has visibly struggled in recent years to get anywhere near the professional circuit through floor events such as the Challenge Tour and Q-School, I have absolutely no doubt that you could put Sherrock on just about any of the biggest darts stages in the world, and she would be more than capable of holding her own. I can think of quite a few players in the world's top 32 who would pay good money to have that kind of quality."