Jonny Clayton has revealed what it takes to beat Luke Littler, offering a key tip to the amateurs who will face the world No.1 in an upcoming Netflix darts show. Littler will take on 20 amateur players in Beat Luke Littler at the end of the month, with the chance to win £501,000 by beating him at a leg of darts.
If any of the public check-out before Littler, the game is up and the victor will land a life-changing half a million pounds, as well as bragging rights over one of the best players to ever throw a dart. The amateurs will need a slice of luck, but also the ability and composure to hold their nerve against Littler.
Clayton's Experience Against Littler
Clayton is no stranger to getting one over 'The Nuke'. He beat Littler 10-4 in the quarter-final of the World Series Finals in their last encounter, as well as beating the teenager in the Premier League Darts Rotterdam night final.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via AskGamblers, Clayton quipped about his victories: "I think Luke's parents have done a good job of getting him to respect the elders!"
The Key to Beating Littler
Clayton then offered his tactical insight: "No, to be fair, you know what you have to do against Luke Littler. You know what kind of player Luke Littler is. You've got to stay with him, but when you get chances, you have to take them."
"I've been lucky enough of late that when I do get those chances, I've taken those chances, and I win. And that's what it's all about. When the top players are giving you a chance, you have to take a chance."
Clayton admitted that Littler's imperious reputation among the fans is true when you face him on the stage: "He is genuinely so hard to beat. He's like a machine, to be fair to him. But saying that, we all have off days, and Luke Littler's no different, we all miss a double and miss a treble now and again."
Littler's Approach to the Show
Littler has revealed he will not be taking the show lightly, with his reputation on the line: "No way. There's half a million quid up for grabs, I won't be going easy at all."
"I'll be wanting to beat everyone who comes up. Maybe the first few legs could be a bit nervy, but once I get going then I don't think anyone will stop me."
"If I lose one game then I'm done – that's the only difference. However, if I start off well then it's going to be very hard for my opponents to get into the game."
Littler has no idea who he is set to come up against, with the final 20-player line-up selected by the producers. "I think that's the fun part of the show, you don't know who the 20 are, you don't know how they are going to play and they only have to have one good leg and I'm done," Littler added.
"I think they are going to be nervous though because they're up against me and because the money they could win would be life-changing."
"So I am just going to try and relax and enjoy it and hopefully beat everyone, but if it's not to be, it's not to be. I think we're in for a great night either way."
"I think it'll bring in a huge audience and hopefully more people will get into darts because of the show. I think it's going to do really well and I'm just really looking forward to getting started."
