The rise of Fallon Sherrock
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Fallon Sherrock’s life changed overnight in 2019 when she made history at the World Championship.
The 27-year-old quickly became a household name after putting women’s darts on the map at Alexandra Palace.
She was thrust into the spotlight after her breakthrough achievements, appearing on breakfast news and evening chat shows.
Sherrock has not stopped breaking new ground ever since and will return to the venue where she made her name gunning for more glory.
Lakeside runner-up
Sherrock had enjoyed World Championship success before she took centre stage at Ally Pally, reaching the BDO women’s final in 2015.
She lost to Lisa Ashton, who now has a PDC tour card, but that was only the start.
𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆!
We have it confirmed… both Fallon Sherrock and Lisa Ashton have qualified for the 2021/22 @WilliamHill World Darts Championship via the Women's Series. pic.twitter.com/QxA3NN68lL
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 23, 2021
Queen of the Palace
She was crowned that nickname after becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC worlds two years ago.
Sherrock beat Ted Evetts and then Mensur Suljovic to take the headlines and spark life into a career that has not stopped since.
Sherrock could not back that up the following year, failing to qualify, but she will return to her happy hunting ground later this week after topping the PDC Women’s Series Order of Merit with six tournament wins.
She will face Steve Beaton, the most experienced player in this year’s field, in the first round on Sunday night and is the 8/11 favourite.
Back-to-back wins again and she should meet world champion Gerwyn Price.
Sherrock said: “This year I have got Gerwyn in my draw, I really want to play the world champion.
“I have had the privilege of playing the Lakeside world champion (Wayne Warren) this year so I would love to play the PDC world champion to see what run for his money I can give him.”
She added: “I have amazing memories, I had so much emotion.
“I was so excited to begin with then I was nervous and then the adrenalin was running.
“Afterwards I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, there was so much going on. It was like a whirlwind, I was so tired because I was being thrown from one place to the other.
“There was one day where I was doing from the morning breakfast shows right through to the evening and it was absolutely knackering but I enjoyed every single minute of it.
“Playing at the Ally Pally, the buzz, the electric atmosphere, it still gives me goosebumps, that is why I am so excited to get back.
“I am so excited to go back, I want to relive all the moments from two years ago and hopefully create more.”
Keeps getting better
Those two wins at Ally Pally have created opportunities elsewhere, despite her not holding a tour card, and she has taken them with aplomb.
She took part in the Premier League, drawing 6-6 with Glen Durrant, and was also the first woman in PDC history to reach a televised final against male opposition.
Only a come-from-behind victory by Michael Van Gerwen denied her a maiden PDC title at the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen in September.
Sherrock had reached her first PDC final by producing a thrilling comeback to beat former World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 11-10 in the last four, having faced deficits of 8-2 and 10-6.
Sherrock also became the first woman to make the quarter-finals of a televised PDC event at the Grand Slam of Darts last month, eventually losing to Peter Wright despite recording an average over 100.
🗣️ "@Fsherrock can change the darting landscape."
🎙️ @Wayne501Mardle, @DarthMaple180 and @MissEmmaPaton discuss the impact that Fallon Sherrock has on the sport.
📺 Sky Sports Arena
✍ Live blog: https://t.co/0O0RK3IYKl
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/5jAd6ONrCq— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) November 17, 2021
The bigger the stage, the better she seems to perform, with no occasion overawing her.
Sherrock holds her nerve at tense moments and takes out big checkouts, like the 170 she completed to make it into the Grand Slam knockout stages.
She said: “I have got mentally stronger, I think my game has got better, I am more determined.
“Life’s too short, you don’t know what’s around the corner, I don’t want to waste any opportunity I get now so I will go all guns blazing to get as much as I can.”
Tour card on the horizon?
Sherrock failed to secure a PDC tour card at Q-School in 2020, shortly after her Ally Pally exploits, meaning she could not complete regularly on the circuit.
There have been calls for Sherrock to receive an automatic tour card and an entry into the Premier League in 2022, so watch this space!
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
