Welsh 14-year-old Makinley Cooper-Johnson to challenge Luke Littler on Netflix’s Beat Luke Littler
Makinley Cooper-Johnson, a 14-year-old from Wrexham, will attempt to beat reigning world champion Luke Littler on Friday evening at the Manchester Central Convention Complex as part of Netflix’s Beat Luke Littler, with a £501,000 prize on offer for the first contestant to win a single leg of 501 against the world number one.
Cooper-Johnson, who only took up darts three years ago, is one of 24 contestants chosen by Netflix and is the second youngest to progress from the auditions, having impressed a judging panel that included Phil Taylor. Littler is described in the programme as the reigning world champion and won his first of two World Championships aged 17, a backdrop that frames the challenge facing the young Welsh player.
On his chances Cooper-Johnson told BBC Wales: "Look, I'm not saying I'm world class or anything, but I can hold my own," adding, "I've got a shot at this." He also said: "I respect Luke for what he's done. But at the end of the day, he knows he's good – but he doesn't know how good I am."
Cooper-Johnson has clear plans for any prize money, telling reporters he aims to use winnings to set up as an undertaker: "Undertakers never go out of business, do they?" he said, followed by "Money's money!" He added: "Being successful is all I've ever wanted. Darts would be an amazing way to go for that, and I'd love to put some respect into the sport and hopefully achieve a lot. "But I also love to entertain, whether that's on a darts stage or a programme."
He only almost missed the Netflix audition after applying as a joke; his mother Stacie said: "It was uproar when we got there," and described long queues before a steward directed them to the under-18s line, which still involved two hours in the rain. Cooper-Johnson recalled a late-night phone call from Phil Taylor: "My best mate Phil! I was in bed half-asleep when Mum came in with the phone," and, "When you heard who it was, I was out of bed, stood up, almost saluting, and he personally told me I had a place in the live show."
On the practice front Cooper-Johnson said he has yet to hit a nine-darter, quipping, "that treble 19 messes with me, man," and that he began playing to join his brother and father, remembering "lobbing darts at an unusual board on an uneven wall… it was shocking!" His mother added: "We know how much Makinley loves playing and we've noticed he's got better and better over the past six months. "It's been a bit of a whirlwind since the audition, but the family are ecstatic and so proud of him." A Freddie Mercury impression forms part of his routine.
Cooper-Johnson is one of three Welsh contestants on the show. Fellow Welsh entrants include Tony Cole, 39, from south Wales, nicknamed 'Top Cat' and a bank business adviser, and Pwyll ap Llyr Edwards of Llanuwchllyn, who said on BBC Radio Cymru: "I started chucking a few darts when I was about three years old, then I started properly when I was about eight." Edwards added: "If I find my A game on the day and he doesn't, I might have a chance. It's going to be a big ask. "I have had a few 12-darters and one or two 11-darters. "But I will have to start the leg. If that happens, if I get a 12-darter, he has to get a nine-darter. But that's one of my best legs, so crossed fingers." Jonny Clayton is noted in the coverage as the most recent Welshman to beat Luke Littler.
Cooper-Johnson said he hopes for an early slot because, "Luke doesn't like playing earlier on," adding: "He likes to settle into his game, so I'd probably like to be in there relatively shortly." He also acknowledged the entertainment aspect, saying: "But then again, you gotta give the fans a show, haven't you!" His family will be in the crowd at Manchester Central as he takes his chance on the live Beat Luke Littler broadcast, where the first player to take a leg of 501 from the world number one will receive £501,000.