Fallon Sherrock

World Darts results: Fallon Sherrock becomes first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship

By Sporting Life

Darts

Wed December 18, 2019 · 5y ago

A review of Tuesday action at the World Darts Championship as Fallon Sherrock made sporting history by beating Ted Evetts.

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EVENING SESSION

Sherrock crowned Queen of the Palace

Fallon Sherrock shot to darting stardom on a history-making night at the Alexandra Palace as she became the first woman ever to win a match at the PDC World Championship thanks to a pulsating 3-2 victory over Ted Evetts.

The 25-year-old was a 6/1 outsider to go one better than Mikuru Suzuki, who agonisingly missed out on achieving the same feat when losing 3-2 to James Richardson on Sunday night, and made her intentions clear with an early roof raising 106 checkout to level the scores.

The 2,000-strong crowd were unanimously and vociferously rooting for the Milton Keynes star but the talented Evetts defied their cheers to take the set with back-to-back legs.

This would not deter the nerveless Sherrock as she again whipped the fans into a frenzy by winning three legs in 13, 14 and 15 darts, while both players were averaging over 95 in what was fast becoming an Ally Pally classic.

An inspired Sherrock then raised the decibel level even higher - if it was even possible - when firing in a 100 checkout to complete a stunning 12-darter at the start of the third set.

However, at 2-1 up in a set of high quality and big scoring, she finally showed signs of nerves by spurning four darts at doubles and Evetts punished her before clinching the decider.

The pressure was getting to both young stars as their averages dropped from near 100 to the lower end of the 90s but Sherrock used her advantage of throwing first in the fifth leg of the fourth set - having missed a dart at the bullseye in the previous one - to reel off a fine 13-darter.

Evetts was clearly feeling the strain about the prospect of becoming the first man to lose to a woman on this grandest of stages, spurning two darts at the double in the first leg of the deciding set and then failing to even have an attempt at a finish in the next as Sherrock held with a nervy 20-darter to move to the brink of victory.

Super Ted stayed alive by pinning double 16 with his opponent waiting on tops but it would prove to be in vain as Sherrock showed nerves of steel to seal a landmark moment for darts and women in sport as a whole.

"I can't believe that I've made history," said Sherrock, who averaged 91.12 compared to Evetts' 91.5, hit two more 180s with six and converted 12 of her 29 attempts at doubles. "I was inspired by Mikuru and I don't think I would have believed in myself as much if she hadn't performed so well.

"I'm absolutely over the moon - I have always dreamt of playing on that stage and winning on it is something I have dreamt of too but I never thought it would happen.

"I can't remember much of the match but the atmosphere was amazing. I didn't want it do end but I'm glad it ended the way it did with me making history.

"I hope what I've done proves we can beat the men and play well against them. We just need more opportunities to prove themselves."

Sherrock will now go on and meet Mensur Suljovic on Saturday December 21 in the second round.

The Heat is on fire

Damon Heta enjoyed a dream debut at the Alexandra Palace as he upset the odds to whitewash Jose de Sousa 3-0 in the opening round.

The Australian, who defied pre-tournament odds of 250/1 to win the televised Brisbane Darts Masters during the summer thanks to victories over James Wade, Gary Anderson, Simon Whitlock and Rob Cross, averaged an impressive 94 and crucially held his nerve in all three deciding legs.

De Sousa failed to hit a single 180 - although Heta only managed one himself - and averaged 90 in a largely disappointing performance from a player who was widely expected to book a meeting with Glen Durrant.

The 45-year-old, who earned his first Tour Card back in January, became the first Portuguese winner of a PDC event in September with a crushing 8-1 victory over Gerwyn Price...and then made it two by beating Durrant in his third final of the season.

But he was unable to translate his fine form away from the TV cameras to the biggest stage of all.

De Zwaan back from the brink

Jeffrey de Zwaan avoided becoming Darin Young's second Dutch scalp by the skin of his teeth as he reached the third round of the World Championship.

'Big Daddy' had upset the odds to dramatically end the career of Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday night and looked like make a mockery of the underdog tag once again when he stormed into a 2-1 set lead thanks to a 104 checkout and a fine 13-darter in the decider.

The American moved to the brink of victory when going 2-0 up in the fourth set but after de Zwaan fought back to force a deciding leg, he'd them miss a match dart at double eight and was duly punished.

De Zwaan, who finished with an average of 93.47 and fired in eight 180s, proceeded to race through the fifth set 3-1 thanks to two 13 darters and another in 14.

Debut delight for Edhouse

Ritchie Edhouse marked his Alexandra Palace debut with a 3-1 victory over Boris Koltsov.

The Londoner, who won the opening set with a 106 checkout, was on course for an impressive whitewash but lost a deciding leg in the third as the Russian showed signs of a comeback.

Sure enough Koltsov grew in confidence to go 2-0 up in the fourth only for 'Madhouse' to storm back by winning three legs in a row.

Edhouse averaged 87.83 compared to his opponent's 84, hit one more 180 with three and pinned 11 of his 38 darts at doubles.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Eagle soars after slow start

Krzysztof Ratajski defied a slow start to beat Zoran Lerchbacher and reach the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship.

The Polish Eagle looked up against it after missing three darts to win the first set, as Lerchbacher moved in front, but after clawing his way back to parity it was Ratajski who dictated terms.

It was a chance missed for Lerchbacher, who could so easily have taken a stranglehold in the match in the second set and also had his chances in the third.

In fact, the Austrian threw for the third set, but Ratajski started the leg with a maximum and took out 64 before a 13-dart hold saw him move in front for the first time at 2-1.

From there, Ratajski started to play well, breaking throw with a 70 finish before another 13-dart leg, and the match was soon over as he booked a place in round three.

Reyes scores hard-fought win

Cristo Reyes fought back to beat Lourence Ilagan 3-2 in a heated clash and book a second-round clash with Adrian Lewis.

The Spaniard found himself 2-0 down to his fiery Filipino opponent, who was within a leg of victory at 2-2 in the third set.

But after that chance passed him by, Ilagan's grip on the contest softened as Reyes forced a deciding set.

Having started it with a maximum, his seventh of the match, Reyes went on to win the next three legs and seal a comeback win against an opponent left to rue missed chances.

Ilagan never had a match dart, but he was well on course to take the third set before throws of 60 and 57 left the door open for Reyes, who strode through with a 180 followed by taking out 60.

Even then, after Reyes had levelled there were still chances for Ilagan, who missed darts for each of the final three legs as he fell at the first hurdle for the second year in succession.

Noel provides some festive cheer

There was better news for the Asian Tour as Noel Malicdem thrashed Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-0.

Once upon a time, the promising Rodriguez would've been a heavy favourite for this match against Asia's number two, but such has been his malaise that bookmakers struggled to split them.

Their assessment proved wrong, as Malicdem lost just three legs to an opponent low on confidence, in the process booking a clash with Peter Wright in round two.

The game began painfully slowly, neither player able to find a big score from their first three visits, but it was Malicdem who took the initiative with a smart 86 finish on double 16.

While Rodriguez immediately broke back, a string of poor darts at double in the following leg handed the advantage back to Malicdem, and he again hit double 16 to close out the set.

More double trouble cost the Austrian in the second set, as Malicdem fired in a 104 finish to move into a clear lead, and with his confidence up he took out 98 to start the third.

At 2-0 down in both sets and legs, finally Rodriguez found his range, but six missed darts at double allowed his opponent to steal the show with a 107 finish to reach the second round.

Rodriguez missed 17 leg darts in total in a dismal display, but one which could have been foreseen given his struggles throughout the year.

Searle topples the King

Ryan Searle bagged a 170 checkout and survived a match dart as he beat Robbie King 3-2 in a dramatic opener on Tuesday.

Searle, who reached the fourth round on his World Championship debut last year, scraped through having trailed 2-1 in sets - but only after King's attempt at tops fell short.

It was King who started the brighter, edging a tight first set, but four maximums in the second set helped Searle to level the scores.

From there, he appeared set to pull clear, first winning the opening leg of the third set before a brilliant 170 checkout which had the look of a decisive blow - only for King to fight back and somehow win the set.

To his credit, Searle composed himself to level the scores once more, but he could only watch as King threatened to take out 108 and win the match only for his final dart to miss.

Searle stepped in to take out 66, completing the job with his sole match dart, having missed a total of 37 darts at double during a scrappy contest with flashes of brilliance from both.

World Darts Championship: Tuesday results & Wednesday schedule

Tuesday December 17
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ryan Searle 3-2 Robbie King (First Round)
Cristo Reyes 3-2 Lourence Ilagan (First Round)
Rowby-John Rodriguez 0-3 Noel Malicdem (First Round)
Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1 Zoran Lerchbacher (Second Round)

Evening Session
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ritchie Edhouse 3-1 Boris Koltsov (First Round)
Jose De Sousa 0-3 Damon Heta (First Round)
Ted Evetts 2-3 Fallon Sherrock (First Round)
Jeffrey de Zwaan 3-2 Darin Young (Second Round)

Wednesday December 18
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ron Meulenkamp v Ben Robb (First Round)
Mickey Mansell v Seigo Asada (First Round)
Harry Ward v Madars Razma (First Round)
Stephen Bunting v Justicia (Second Round)

Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

James Wilson v Nico Kurz (First Round)
Josh Payne v Diogo Portela (First Round)
Gabriel Clemens v Benito van de Pas (First Round)
James Wade v Edhouse/Koltsov (Second Round)

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