Netflix is launching a live darts competition featuring 19-year-old prodigy Luke Littler, offering amateur players the chance to compete against one of the sport’s rising stars. The event, titled "Beat Luke Littler," will be streamed live and culminate in a grand final broadcast on October 30.
The competition will begin with regional heats held in London and Manchester in September. From these rounds, 20 amateur players will be selected to challenge Littler in the final stage of the event. Contestants who manage to defeat Littler will receive a prize of £501,000, a figure symbolizing the 501 points that players must reduce to win a standard game of darts.
Luke Littler has quickly established himself as a dominant force in professional darts. At just 16, he reached the final of the 2024 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship. Since then, his accomplishments have continued to mount, including victories earlier this year at the World Championship, the UK Open, the Premier League, the Masters, and the World Matchplay tournament held this week.
Despite Littler’s impressive record and reputation, the competition is set against the backdrop of widespread public belief that everyday players might have a chance to take him on. Netflix’s promotional material includes Littler responding to social media posts from individuals claiming they could beat him, adding a personal challenge to potential participants.
The format presents a steep challenge: Littler must beat all 20 finalists, while each amateur only needs a single win to claim the prize. Although the likelihood of an upset remains low given Littler’s recent form—including breaking tournament records held by darts legend Phil Taylor—the event offers compelling live entertainment that balances competitive stakes with the accessible, familiar appeal of darts.
Netflix’s move into live sports and competition formats marks a departure from its previous attempts at live broadcasting, which have faced technical challenges. Earlier live ventures, such as a reunion of the dating series "Love is Blind" and a boxing match featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, experienced streaming disruptions. A recent live feed of climber Alex Honnold scaling a skyscraper in Taiwan was successful but included a delay for safety reasons.
"Beat Luke Littler" is positioned as a blend of sport and entertainment that may better suit live viewing, with the low-risk nature of darts allowing for uninterrupted live streaming. While traditional broadcasters in the UK have largely minimized live programming outside of news and select shows, Netflix is pushing into live content with fresh concepts.
The show’s outcome could have significant implications for Littler’s career, as a loss to an amateur could affect his standing in the sport. For contestants and viewers alike, the event promises a high-stakes spectacle and a rare opportunity to challenge one of darts’ most promising young talents.