Fallon Sherrock is set to compete in her third PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace this month when she faces Ricky Evans in the first round on the evening of Tuesday, December 20.
The “Queen of the Palace” went viral at the end of 2019 when she became the first woman player to win a match – and then two matches - in the PDC World Darts Championship. Since then, she has continued to create several other memorable moments in the sport.
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How did Fallon Sherrock qualify for the World Darts Championship?
Sherrock officially qualified for the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship by virtue of winning the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay in Blackpool last summer.
As part of the PDC’s expansion into women’s darts, the live televised event featured the top eight ranked players from the PDC Women’s Series. Played during the main event at the iconic Winter Gardens, Sherrock defeated Aileen de Graaf in the final to lift the trophy.
However, there has been some controversy surrounding Sherrock’s world championship inclusion, with the PDC only announcing her qualification a few weeks ago, and not at the time when she was victorious in July.
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The organisation has been criticised and accused by some for trying to shoehorn Sherrock into the Championship, after she was pushed outside the top two qualification places allocated to the Women’s Series by a rampant Beau Greaves who clinched second during the final weekend of action.
“I don’t care what anyone says. I deserve my spot because I won a major PDC title on TV. That’s my argument," Sherrock has said in response to some criticism.
“I don’t have a point to prove to anybody. I missed out on qualifying through the Women’s Series by just over £1,000 in prize money because I wasn’t in Germany, where Beau won all four tournaments.
“I’m pretty sure I would have won at least that amount if I had gone to Germany instead of New Zealand to appear in the World Series.
“I’m not saying I would have won all of them because Beau was playing so well.
“But I’m 100% sure I would have picked up enough ranking points.”
The moment Fallon Sherrock made history...
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 14, 2022
Throwback to the incredible 2019/20 World Darts Championship to when Fallon Sherrock made history by beating Ted Evetts and then Mensur Suljovic!
1️⃣ DAY TO GO! pic.twitter.com/zvXfa8Ifzw
Fallon Sherrock’s history at the World Darts Championship
Having come through a women’s qualifying event to get there, Sherrock made her debut at the PDC World Darts Championship during the 2019/20 edition.
She famously ‘smashed the glass ceiling’ when defeating Ted Evetts 3-2 in the opening round before completing an even bigger upset when eliminating number 11 seed Mensur Suljović 3-1. Her historic run was stopped by Chris Dobey, 4-2, in the last 32.
These were the first two victories by a woman player at the PDC World Darts Championship.
After missing out the following year, Sherrock qualified for and returned to the Alexandra Palace for the 2021/22 Championship after finishing top of the Women’s Series, although she lost to 1996 BDO World Champion Steve Beaton 3-2 in the first round.
If Sherrock defeats Ricky Evans on her third appearance in the tournament, she would set up a last 64 tie with reigning Masters Champion Joe Cullen.
Is Fallon Sherrock the only female player in PDC darts?
Several female players have taken part in major PDC events in recent years.
Four-time World Women’s Champion Lisa Ashton was the first – and to date only – woman player to win a PDC professional tour card after she came through Q School in 2020.
Although the professional circuit is open to all, the PDC has made a commitment to women’s darts with the Women’s Series which is aimed to get more women into the sport and to raise the standard. The circuit also offers pathways to the Women’s Matchplay, Grand Slam of Darts, and the World Championship.
Canada’s Gayl King was the first woman to play in the PDC World Darts Championship in 2001. In recent years, several others have also played on the biggest stage of all. For the first time at the 2022/23 edition, three women players will compete – Ashton, teenager Beau Greaves, and Sherrock.
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Is there a Women’s World Darts Championship?
The PDC do not currently hold a Women’s World Darts Championship, although the World Darts Federation (WDF) do, after they took over the administration of the event from the British Darts Organisation who held it for several years.
The BDO Women’s World Darts Championship was first held in 2001 alongside the Men’s event at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green.
Trina Gulliver is the most successful player in the history of the Championship having won it ten times, including the first seven to be staged.
Four other players won the title whilst it was under the BDO banner - Anastasia Dobromyslova (three times), Francis Hoenselaar (once), Lisa Ashton (four times) and Mikuru Suzuki (twice).
After the event was not held in 2021, it returned in 2022 under WDF stewardship and was back at Lakeside after the 2020 edition was played at the Indigo at the O2 in London. The tournament was sensationally won by 18-year-old Beau Greaves, who dropped only one set throughout and became the youngest ever winner and finalist.
The PDC did once hold a Women’s World Darts Championship in 2010 with the final at the Winter Gardens which was won by America’s Stacy Bromberg.
What has Fallon Sherrock won?
Fallon Sherrock has won a plethora of ranking titles on both the BDO/WDF and PDC circuits.
As a junior, Sherrock won the 2011 WDF Girls World Cup and the 2012 Girls World Masters.
In the senior women’s ranks she has claimed many big open championships within the UK and across Europe in countries such as Denmark, France, Slovakia and Switzerland. Sherrock also won back-to-back Japan Opens in Tokyo in 2015 and 2016.
Her major titles on the BDO/WDF side were at the 2015 Finder Women’s Darts Masters in Holland and the 2018 BDO Women’s World Trophy at the Preston Guild Hall, England. The Milton Keynes star has also been a runner-up at the 2014 Winmau Women’s World Masters and the 2015 Women’s World Championship.
On the fledgling PDC women’s circuit she has won 10 Women’s Series events and the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay in 2022.
As part of the PDC’s World Series, Sherrock reached the final of the 2021 Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen but lost to Michael van Gerwen 11-7 in a compelling contest which she led early on in.