Fallon Sherrock defeated reigning two-time world champion Luke Littler to win £501,000 at Netflix’s live darts event, Beat Luke Littler, in Manchester on Friday.

The 32-year-old became the first challenger to beat the world number one in the contest, ending his winning run after 14 previous opponents had failed to overcome him in the one-leg 501 format.

Sherrock won the bull-off to secure the first throw and produced a 15-dart leg, hitting a maximum 180 before finishing on double 20 to claim the prize.

She completed the victory from 43, leaving Littler needing 142 when she landed the winning dart.

The victory, which came in front of a packed crowd at Manchester Central, earned Sherrock the biggest prize of her career.

“Honestly I can’t put it into words how I feel, especially with Rory being here,” she said during an on-stage interview with presenter Gary Lineker, referring to her son.

“It’s the first time he’s been to anything. It was lovely. Sorry, I’m just so lost for words right now. It was a great moment and I’ll memorise this forever,” she added.

Known as the ‘Queen of the Palace’, Sherrock rose to prominence at the 2020 PDC World Darts Championship, held in December 2019, when she became the first woman to win a match at the tournament.

She defeated Ted Evetts before beating Mensur Suljovic to reach the third round.

Her participation in Friday’s event had attracted criticism from some darts fans because of her experience in professional competitions, including her victory at the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay in 2022.

However, Netflix’s eligibility rules allowed players who had never held a Professional Darts Corporation Tour card to compete.

Sherrock said she had faced negative comments over her inclusion but maintained that she met the competition’s criteria.

“I do see the backlash and I do see all the negative comments. But at the end of the day, I fit the criteria for this. I’ve never had a tour card, and I wouldn’t class myself as a pro really, because all I do is just play darts for the enjoyment of it,” she said.

PDC president Barry Hearn also defended her participation, saying she was entitled to enter because she did not hold a Tour card.

Littler congratulated Sherrock after the defeat, describing her performance as “world class”.

“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it — the ad, the photo shoots, just everything leading up to this. It’s been good. Maybe Netflix, we can do it again next year,” he said.

Sherrock’s £501,000 prize is the second-largest in darts, behind the £1m awarded to the winner of the PDC World Darts Championship.