Fallon Sherrock made history by becoming the first female darts player to beat a man at the world championships last night (Tuesday).
Sherrock was left speechless after she beat 22-year-old Ted Evetts 3-2 at the PDC World Championships at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.
The mother-of-one from Milton Keynes wept tears of joy after her stunning victory, telling crowds in London: ‘I have proved that we can play the men and we can beat them!’
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, the 25-year-old revealed her plans to auction off her board to raise money for the National Autistic Society, which helps to support her five-year-old son Rory, who has autism.
Fallon, who until four years ago was a professional hairdresser, first picked up a dart aged 17, and has a twin sister Felicia Blay, who also plays.
She also spoke out about the daily sexist abuse she receives from cruel trolls online.
She said: ‘I can’t believe what I achieved last night I’m so happy. I always had the game but us women have never had the opportunity to prove it.’
Sherrock also revealed she only drinks water after she was struck down with kidney disease which sparked a wave of abuse from viewers about her appearance.
She said: ‘It made me stronger and it made me want to do something more in my game.’
Sherrock scooped £7,500 in prize money after winning the first round and could net another £15,000 is she wins her second-round match, against Austria’s Mensur Suljovic.
Sherrock added: ‘This is definitely one of the best moments I’ve had. I’m just so happy. I’ve just made history. I can’t believe it. I’ve made a great achievement for women’s darts.’
In 2014, Sherrock developed kidney disease six months after she had her son Rory.
She said the medication she took left her with a ‘moon face’ – prompting cruel comments from trolls.
She told The Sun: ‘When I played in the BDO worlds on TV, I received a lot of criticism for how I looked.
‘If I saw negative comments I tried to look past them. I’m not going to dwell on what someone has said if it doesn’t affect my life. I think that attitude helps to strengthen my character.’
Miss Sherrock was one of only two female players at the tournament – up against 94 men.
Speaking on BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show today, she revealed she is subjected to daily sexist abuse from trolls.
Miss Sherrock has had a glittering career since swapping scissors for darts.
She began playing in her teens and quickly joined the England youth team before being crowned the WDF World Cup 2011 Girls Singles Champion when she was just 17.
She continued to cut hair in the first years of her sporting career, then won the Girls World Masters and the Women’s Jersey Open the next year.
Miss Sherrock reached the final of the women’s BDO World Darts Championship when she was only 20 in 2015.
The right-handed thrower started as a youth with the Buckinghamshire County Darts team, which plays in the village of Wing’s Sports and Social Club.
She has now played in competitions all over the world, including in Japan, Denmark and Slovakia, and is ranked as the fourth-best female player by the World Darts Federation.
She was a 2,000-1 shot to win the tournament before her first round match with world No 95 Evetts.
Women’s world champion Mikuru Suzuki came close, but was edged out of the competition by James Richardson on Sunday night.
Sherrock said last night: ‘I am speechless. I don’t know what to say. Thank you everyone.
‘I feel really happy because I have made something for women’s darts. I can’t believe it. To do that on the biggest stage – wow! I am so happy that I can continue it [the tournament] rather than go out.’
Miss Sherrock scored a 91.48 three-dart average, hit a 180 in the second leg of the match and notched up a 106 ‘checkout’ finish in style. She now faces world No11 Mensur Suljovic in the second round.
She trended on Twitter after her win while supporters at Alexandra Palace chanted ‘We love you Sherrock – we do!’
Evetts had lost his throw in the opening leg of the deciding set, as Sherrock – cheered on by the vocal support at a packed Alexandra Palace – moved 2-0 ahead.
The 22-year-old held his next arrows – but another big score from Sherrock left her with three match darts at double 18.
Sherrock took a second match dart to write her name into the history books and will go on to face Mensur Suljovic, the 11th seed, in round two.
Earlier during Tuesday’s afternoon session, Devon’s Ryan Searle edged out Robbie King 3-2 in their first-round match, the Australian having missed a match dart in a sudden-death leg.
Spainard Cristo Reyes recovered from two-sets down to defeat PDC Asian Tour winner Lourence Ilagan of the Philippines, and will go on to meet Adrian Lewis, two-time former world champion, in the second round.
Noel Malicdem progressed with a 3-0 victory over Rowby-John Rodriguez to secure a showdown against Peter Wright, the world number seven.
Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who has won six PDC ranking titles, booked his place in the third round with a 3-1 win over Austrian Zoran Lerchbacher.
During the evening session, tournament debutant Ritchie Edhouse beat Russian Boris Koltsov 3-1 in the first round.
Australian Damon Heta swept past Portugal’s Jose De Sousa 3-0 to to set up a second-round showdown against Glen Durrant, the reigning BDO world champion.
Source: Daily Mail
