Fallon Sherrock prepares for key clash in World Darts Championship
Fallon Sherrock will step onto the oche at Alexandra Palace on Thursday evening, continuing her remarkable association with the World Darts Championship, reports BritPanorama.
The encounter with Dave Chisnall represents her sixth appearance at the prestigious north London venue across the past seven festive seasons. Chisnall, hailing from St Helens, held a position as high as fifth in the world rankings just last year, though his recent form has dipped somewhat.
For Sherrock, the match offers a genuine opportunity to recapture former glories at the tournament where she first captured the nation’s imagination. Last December, she suffered a narrow loss to Ryan Meikle, denying her a tantalising second-round meeting with teenage sensation Luke Littler.
The 30-year-old has endured a challenging period away from the spotlight, with health concerns prompting consideration of a competitive hiatus. During the summer months, she disclosed difficulties maintaining energy levels and stamina following an unspecified illness. Sherrock, who became unwell after the birth of her son Rory in 2014, has previously required medication for kidney problems.
She also ended her relationship with fellow darts player Cameron Menzies this year, who has suffered his own mental health troubles. However, the former hairdresser now reports a significant improvement in her condition. “I feel 100 per cent better than what I did,” she said. “I’m not going to jinx anything. I definitely feel a bit more energetic and you know, more positive in myself and less tired.” The single mother added, “My darts are slowly getting back to normal, so I have nothing to be unhappy about.”
The spotlight at this year’s championship has largely shifted elsewhere, with attention firmly fixed on Beau Greaves, who takes on Daryl Gurney on Friday evening. Five women feature in the 128-player field, yet Greaves commands the headlines as the standout female competitor. Sherrock welcomes this arrangement rather than resenting it, stating, “I’ve always said I’d rather be under the radar.”
Six years have passed since Sherrock made history by defeating Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic, becoming the first woman to triumph at the tournament. The intervening period has brought four consecutive first-round exits between 2002 and 2005, allowing memories of those groundbreaking victories to fade somewhat. In preparation for Thursday’s contest, she stepped away from the exhibition circuit for a month, dedicating hours each day to practice sessions with a friend in Stoke. “It’s frustrating because I never thought I’ve played that badly since (2019),” she reflected. “I believe you need a little bit of luck as well.”
The experience accumulated through victories and defeats has taught her to handle pressure more effectively, she believes. “Once I get my game sorted, I think I could be better than what I was.” Now, as the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be watching to see if Sherrock can once again rise to the occasion, challenging for the spotlight that defines this unique sport.
