“Having to hit a double for that much money...” – Vincent van der Voort expects amateurs to crumble against Luke Littler as Netflix puts £501,000 on the line

Vincent van der Voort expects it will be particularly difficult for amateurs to beat Luke Littler at a special Netflix-organized darts event. Anyone who manages to win a leg against the world number one can pocket a hefty £501,000. According to Van der Voort, the immense pressure will be a key factor.

The concept is as simple as it is spectacular. Littler will play twenty legs against different opponents. Whoever manages to beat the Englishman in any one of those legs walks away with the enormous cash prize.

Van der Voort appreciates the setup, as he said on the podcast Darts Draait Door. “It’s certainly a nice promotional move. It’s a terrific stunt by Netflix. Definitely.”

Not everyone, however, gets the chance to have a go. Players with a PDC Tour Card are excluded from participating. Van der Voort meets that condition, but has little desire to travel to England himself to try to qualify for the field. “I’d have to play qualifiers in England. No, I’m not going to do that.”

Even so, the former professional believes there are plenty of players outside the PDC circuit who have the level to seriously challenge Littler over a single leg. “There are of course enough players who can certainly win a leg off him.”

Nevertheless, Van der Voort expects Littler to survive all twenty legs in the end. “Do you think he’s going to do it? Yes, I think so, yes. I think someone will get a dart. Or two darts. At a double.”

It’s precisely at that moment Van der Voort believes the size of the prize money will have an impact. For an amateur, a shot at £501,000 is a situation that’s hardly comparable to what he normally experiences during a darts match.

“The nerves you’ll get when you can win a leg against him... As an amateur you’ve never felt that. Having to hit a double for that much money.”