"This is costing over a million pounds, and that's before anybody beats him" - Chris Mason debunks 'money-making scam' rumours ahead of Beat Luke Littler

'Beat Luke Littler' will soon be broadcast live with 20 hopefuls looking to upset the odds and win £501,000 against the world number one, Luke Littler. A show with so much hype and potential, it has been recently lambasted by many fans who pinpointed a flaw in Netflix's advertisement. With some huge names taking part, Chris Mason has stepped in to defend the concept and the names picked for the show.

It will be played out on Friday, 30th October at 7pm GMT with Gary Lineker and Richard Osman hosting the show. 20 participants will get the chance to play Littler in a single leg of darts, hopeful of toppling the two-time world champion and leaving with a hefty financial bonus.

There were many candidates hopeful of getting the chance to feature, but many of them were waved away in favour of some more recognisable names. Fallon Sherrock and Mitchell Lawrie are among the standout candidates looking to steal the show in Manchester with criticism flying in about the conditions.

Anyone without a Tour Card was able to enter and have a shot at glory. While there are some unknown figures, many darts fans were expecting 20 mysterious names from the bottom of the darting ladder look to propel themselves into stardom, disappointed that more recognisable and established players get this chance in the spotlight.

Mason, who will be on commentary duty for proceedings, is excited for the event, dismissing any negative thoughts brewed up surrounding the event when speaking to Online Darts.

"Why would you want to watch 20 blokes from the pub throwing darts at the board? There's a good mix of players," he commented.

"I've been involved in the whole process, the auditions and everything else. Everyone has been asked to go through the process, right? It's a bit like The X Factor, where people say, 'Oh, she used to be a singer' or 'She used to be in a band.' Loads of people who go on that show and win it have previous experience. That's the whole idea of the show."

He stated the reasons why sending 20 pub players onto the oche would be a bad idea. "There's jeopardy there for Luke. I don't want to see him go up there and bash 20 versions of me.

Mason then debunked the scam claims, outlining the true costs of this programme. "It's just pathetic. People are saying it's a scam, a money-making scam. This is costing over a million pounds, and that's before anybody beats him. Do you not think these people have considered that? Of course they have. If he loses early, there's something else in it for the players."

If Littler loses, the show ends with each player only getting one shot at the top prize. "There's also going to be a voting element for the public who have Netflix. Obviously, there are 24 players, with 20 playing, so there's a fan-vote element as well. As for the order, it's going to be split into four parts, and it will all be live. There are four parts, with players in each. The first game will be from Pot One, and all the pots are seeded.

"I don't know how anyone can call it a scam when nobody has paid anything to be involved. You can go and watch it live if you want. It's up in Manchester. It's Beat Luke, or something like that — I should know the website. That's quality for me. I won't get any extra money for this, that's for sure!"

The lineup has got a lot of variety from it. Stemming away from the big names, there are people from different walks of life, all with the same passion for darts. They passed the audition and will briefly leave their usual routine to appear on Netflix with Littler their opponent.

"I think it's fascinating. I think they've got a great mix," Mason continued. "You've got an ex-serviceman, Fallon Sherrock, and people who aren't professional darts players."

Sherrock is one of the more prominent names listed. Her Ally Pally heroics put her in the mainstream back in 2020, reaching stardom levels that would later be replicated by Littler. "With Fallon, they've seen how much money there is in women's darts. She's had to work her arse off. Remember, her career was robbed of the opportunity to make the money she should have done because of COVID. What was planned for her that year after the World Championship was off the scale, and that would have been life-changing money.

"She's still grafting, she's a single mum, and people are giving her shit for entering a competition to win half a million quid. It's life-changing."

When at his best, Littler is impenetrable. No one has come close when he produces his best darts, and when they do it normally ends in the same result. However, the 19-year-old is most certainly human. One mistake on stage, and he loses the game.

There is the chance that someone else could join a coveted group Littler is the only member of. "Only one player has ever won more than half a million quid in one game of darts, and he's on the stage as well," Mason remarked. "Let's not forget that Luke is under pressure, which is why I fancied him to come here and play well. He's been practising."

It seems that 'The Nuke' is not taking any chances. "He openly admitted yesterday, in the press conference with you, that he's been putting the hours in. I think he's reached a stage where that old phrase, 'Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard', comes into play.

"He's been putting in the hours, and that's obvious. Wasn't his first three darts of the tournament — his first three darts on stage in the practice throws — a 180? Then his first three darts in a match were a maximum as well. He's averaging over 110 for the tournament, which brings back memories of the World Matchplay."

There was a point where darts fans were questioning whether Littler was beatable following the ridiculous World Matchplay performance. Three major events later, and it is obvious that he can be there for the taking. However, that is on the PDC Tour. It is another thing altogether for a non-Tour Card holder to win the prize.

"But can he get beaten? Absolutely. Do I expect him to get beaten? The odds suggest that playing 20 legs of first to five, with the players throwing for the bull under PDC rules, means someone could go up there, hit the bull, then hit a 15-darter, and that might be enough. It's the first time darts has crossed over into proper sports entertainment on this scale."

The two-time World Championship semi-finalist did not believe that this was the start of Netflix taking more of an interest in darts. "No, the contracts for ranking tournaments are tied up between Sky and ITV, through Matchroom, DAZN and the other agreements," he confirmed.

Not at least live darts, with Mason hinting Bullseye. "Could Netflix take some one-off specials? I hope so, because I'll be having a meeting with them, probably around the time this goes out, about my idea for a shootout-style tournament — one I've pitched to you many times.

"I think it would be entertaining. It would need the PDC's blessing, and the PDC would no doubt provide the engine room for it, but it would feature 64 players, by invitation only. Netflix is a huge platform, absolutely off the scale, and the fact that they want a piece of darts can only be good for the sport.

Overall, Mason concluded by stressing that this is supposed to be a bit of fun for the viewers as they get to sit back and watch a unique format of darts. "There are young players involved who were like Luke Littler four or five years ago. He's inspired these young players who've qualified for the event. Of course, there are some random unknowns in there as well. It's up to the viewers to decide which ones they want to see play. Again, it's interaction, fun and entertainment.

"This isn't meant to be serious sport. It's serious for the players trying to win half a million quid, but ultimately it's fun and entertainment for everyone else. I can't imagine the pressure Luke is under. It's enormous. But what a chance for some unknown players, or someone like Fallon, to win life-changing money."

It is not just the money that will be the reward for the possible winner. "Let's be fair: if one of them beats Luke, they'll instantly become stars. They'll be signing sponsorship contracts and they'll be everywhere."

It is a win-win from a business point of view as well as for the players. "Whatever happens, if Luke goes through undefeated, it'll be everywhere. But the winner will be all over the social media posts from Netflix, the PDC and everyone else. It's life-changing — absolutely life-changing. Someone will pay them a fortune to go to Q School in January. They'll get podcast appearances and opportunities to talk about the experience.

"It's important that we get the backstory of every player involved and find out how they feel about it. Trust me, every one of them is delighted to be there, and rightly so. If you don't like the concept, or you're some sort of conspiracy theorist, don't watch it. It's the same as if you don't like me — don't watch me. We don't care. There are enough people interested, and there'll certainly be enough people wanting to see if someone can win half a million quid."