Luke Littler will attempt to fend off 24 challengers tonight as the teenage darts sensation takes centre stage in a brand-new Netflix show offering a life-changing £501,000 prize.
The 19-year-old double world champion will headline Beat Luke Littler on Friday, October 30, in a unique competition that gives amateur darts players the chance to walk away with more than half a million pounds by beating him in a single leg.
The event will take place at Manchester Central Convention Complex, with former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker hosting the action alongside Richard Osman, who will provide expert analysis. Comedian Lee Mack and social media star Angry Ginge will also feature in the programme.
What time does Beat Luke Littler start tonight?
Beat Luke Littler starts at 7pm on Friday, October 30.
The event will take place at Manchester Central Convention Complex, where 24 challengers will attempt to defeat the reigning world champion in front of a live audience.
What TV channel is Beat Luke Littler on?
Beat Luke Littler will be shown exclusively on Netflix, rather than a traditional television channel such as Sky Sports, ITV or the BBC.
Viewers in the UK will need a Netflix subscription to watch the programme, which will be streamed globally.
The event can be watched through the Netflix app on compatible smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets and streaming devices, or via the Netflix website on a computer.
How much is the Beat Luke Littler prize money?
The prize money on offer is a staggering £501,000, which can be won by any contestant who manages to beat Littler in a single leg of darts.
However, there is a catch. Challengers must defeat the world champion outright in their one-leg showdown. If Littler wins, they leave empty-handed.
The competition will end if one of the challengers manages to check out before Littler, meaning the teenager must win every leg to prevent somebody from claiming the jackpot.
How does Beat Luke Littler work?
The rules are relatively straightforward, although the format presents an enormous challenge for the world champion.
Littler will face a succession of opponents in individual legs of 501 darts, with each challenger needing to finish before him to claim the £501,000 prize.
Unlike a traditional darts match, where players compete over multiple legs and sets, contestants need only win once.
That creates the possibility of a major upset, with even the world's best players capable of losing an individual leg following a missed double or an exceptional finish from their opponent.
Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor has warned that Littler could be in for a difficult evening, particularly given the quality of the contestants selected.
"We are seeing people complete the qualifying legs in 11 and 12 darts, with big finishes, so the quality of the finalists is going to be extremely high," Taylor told the BBC.
"I don't think people appreciate how hard this challenge is for Luke. He is going to have to play at World Championship level to stay undefeated."
Richard Osman has even calculated that Littler has a 40 per cent chance of defeating every challenger.
Who are the contestants on Beat Luke Littler?
There are 24 contestants taking part in the Netflix event, including three representing Wales.
Among the Welsh challengers are 14-year-old Makinley Cooper-Johnson from Wrexham, 39-year-old Tony Cole from South Wales and Pwyll ap Llŷr Edwards, 34, from Bala.
Other notable competitors include Fallon Sherrock, who famously became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship, and 15-year-old Scottish prodigy Mitchell Lawrie, who has topped the World Darts Federation rankings.
The full list of contestants is:
- Kasey Smith, 16, Manchester
- Makinley Cooper-Johnson, 14, Wrexham
- Taylon Forrester, 18, Bedford
- Tony Cole, 39, South Wales
- Katie Sheldon, 22, Dublin
- Zac Griffiths, 25, Hereford
- Lauren Bloomfield, 30, Kent
- David Wawrzewski, 50, London
- Jayden Walker, 14, Christchurch
- Zac Spain, 30, Melbourne
- Jasper Scarrott, 54, York
- Jarod Becker, 23, Hildesheim
- Mitchell Lawrie, 15, Renfrew
- Ashley Coleman, 29, Suffolk
- Mark Pooke, 57, London
- Fallon Sherrock, 32, Milton Keynes
- Pwyll ap Llŷr Edwards, 34, Bala
- Will Kemp, 30, Harrogate
- Sonny Johal, 29, Derby
- Brett Todd, 25, Ipswich
- Théodore Wallich, 23, Paris
- Jacob Gwynne, 27, Leeds
- Bhav Patel, 36, Kent
- Pearse Mackle, 21, County Cavan
Contestants were selected following public auditions in London and Manchester, with applicants required to check out from 501 in 24 darts or fewer before progressing through further assessments.
A judging panel featuring Taylor, Barry Hearn and Sky Sports presenter Laura Turner helped select the finalists.
The inclusion of established darts talents has attracted some criticism from supporters who had hoped the show would feature more ordinary pub players.
Nevertheless, with more than half a million pounds on the line, the competition promises an intriguing test of Littler's ability to handle pressure.
