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Fallon Sherrock in action against Steve Beaton

Darts results: Crowd boos Steve Beaton as he defeats Fallon Sherrock at the PDC World Championship

By Chris Hammer

09:55 · MON December 20, 2021

A review of Sunday's action at the William Hill World Darts Championship, as Steve Beaton defeated Fallon Sherrock.

Steve Beaton defied the boos for the first time in his career as he sentenced Fallon Sherrock to a first-round defeat on her eagerly-anticipated return to the PDC World Championship stage.

The Queen of the Palace, who made darting history two years ago with her victories over Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic, failed to qualify for the 2021 edition but was marginal favourite to pull off a legend-killing performance at the Ally Pally.

Beaton was making a record-breaking 31st consecutive World Championship appearance - eclipsing the mark of 30 he jointly held with Phil Taylor - but he'd never produced his best in the PDC version having only gone as far as the fourth round since 2002.

However, the Bronzed Adonis came from 2-0 down to win the first set and at one point during the second he was averaging 104 which was far higher than his previous best of 97.74.

On a record-breaking 31st successive appearance at a World Championship, Steve Beaton is booed for the first time in his legendary career as he attempts to beat Fallon Sherrock in a fantastic match.

But he hits the winning double anyway.pic.twitter.com/2kvAUm7b3l
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) December 19, 2021

Sherrock rallied to level the match and although Beaton, who is usually a crowd favourite in every match he plays, whitewashed her in the third set, she returned the favour in the fourth to set up a nervy decider.

However, despite jeers from some sections of the crowd, the 57-year-old kept his cool to pinch it 3-1 and set up a clash with Kim Huybrechts on Wednesday, with the winner moving on to face defending champion Gerwyn Price after the Christmas break.

Beaton averaged 90.69 compared to Sherrock's 88.74 and hit half of the 10 180s in the match, although his opponent was a more clinical finisher as she pinned nine of her 20 double attempts compared to him hitting 11 of his 32.

"That was one of the hardest games I've ever had to deal with and I've had some really hard games through the years," admitted Beaton. "Fallon played really well, she didn't let me go at all. She's just relentless.

"I started off so well but then I let it slip and I thought she was going to get me. I didn't want to go to a last leg decider so I was relieved that I put in a decent leg to win it.

"These are the games you want to play in. I still love the game and I'm getting paid to do something I enjoy."

Sherrock had already enjoyed another history-making season due to her exploits at the Nordic Darts Masters, where she reached the final with an epic comeback against Dimitri Van den Bergh before a narrow defeat to Michael van Gerwen, and the Grand Slam of Darts, which was the scene of 'that' 170 checkout against Gabriel Clemens, a record TV average for a woman against Mike de Decker, a thrashing of Suljovic and a high-class 16-13 defeat to Peter Wright.

The debate as to whether she should be included in next year's Premier League in the wake of this first-round defeat will now intensify but she will surely still be in the running.

"Steve played well, I can't complain," said Sherrock. "I wasn't confident in the way that my darts were going in the board.

"I showed what I can do in patches, but fell short in the end. Every game I'm behind, I will always fight back. Sometimes I don't make it, sometimes I do but I will never give up."

Sherrock's attention now turns to Qualifying School, where she will be bidding to win a place on the PDC tour for the first time.

She said: "My game is stronger than it was a year ago or two years ago, I feel more confident of getting through Q School. I just want more opportunities and chances to prove myself, it's a privilege playing these players."

Fallon Sherrock is 'ready' for Gerwyn Price, the World Darts Championship and the Premier League!

Jonny Clayton produced the highest average of the tournament so far and he really needed it too, as he came from 2-1 down in a stunning clash against Irish youngster Keane Barry.

The World Grand Prix and Premier League champion, who has won four televised titles this season, eclipsed Gerwyn Price's 101.28 with a mark of 103.7 while he also threw eight of the 11 180s in the match.

But even more impressively, both players landed five 100+ checkouts apiece in just 20 legs of darts including a fantastic 150 from Clayton in the deciding set. That tally is a tournament record for a five-set match.

The Ferret looked on course for a relatively comfortable night when taking the first set but Barry hit back by taking the next two before Clayton won six of the following seven legs to seal his place in round three.

𝟭𝟱𝟬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛!

Ten... TEN! Ten ton-plus finishes in this match already as Jonny Clayton pins D15 for a gargantuan 150 checkout and he leads in the decider!#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/Tmiy554Dn9
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 19, 2021

"That was one of my favourite games I've played in," said Clayton, who averaged in three figures at the World Championship for the first time. It was fantastic, all credit to Keane who never gave me a chance to relax.

"My year so far has been fantastic, hopefully I can finish it off by winning this. I'd love to win that trophy, hopefully it's my year."

Earlier in the evening session, Florian Hempel won a surprisingly one-sided German derby with Martin Schindler 3-0 but he'll need to improve if he's to trouble fifth seed Dimitri Van den Bergh in round two.

Hempel averaged 89.18 compared to his opponent's 88.52 and although he only hit two of the five 180s in the match he gave himself many more chances to pin the doubles, converting nine out of 28 as Schindler made four of his 10.

Martijn Kleermaker enjoyed a winning debut as he battled past John Michael 3-1 and will next meet Simon Whitlock in a match he'll fancy his chances of success.

The Dutchman missed out last year due to Covid but he made up for that by dominating all areas of the game as he averaged 91.17, hit four of the five 180s and also weighed in with a 156 checkout.

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AFTERNOON SESSION

Ross Smith reached the last 32 for the first time as he edged out last year's semi-finalist Stephen Bunting in the highlight of the afternoon session.

A tight contest resulted in the first tie-break of this year's tournament, with Smith landing stunning back-to-back checkouts of 167 and 102 to get over the line.

Smith averaged 94.34 and fired in seven of the 12 180s in the match but his finishing of 35.1% is an area to improve on.

🎯🙌 Ross Smith hit this 167 checkout and followed it with another from 102 in the very next leg to beat Stephen Bunting in a thriller.

💯 That took the 100+ checkout count to four in the match - a 6/4 winner for @ChrisHammer180 pic.twitter.com/koRwizmuqk
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) December 19, 2021

Scotland's Alan Soutar enjoyed a debut win although he had to come through a five-set contest with Diogo Portela.

Soutar, who has enjoyed a superb season in the PDC ranks, found himself up against it when his Brazilian opponent punished him for a missed dart at tops in the deciding leg of the opening set.

The former soldier hit back to move 2-1 up in sets only for Braziliant to take out 81 in the deciding leg of the fourth but in the end he came through by pinching the fifth 3-1.

Soutar averaged slightly less than Portela's 90.29, hit one fewer 180s with four and was also far less clinical on his doubles (38.2% v 64.3%) but his more consistent scoring gave himself more opportunities on the outer ring. He will next meet Mensur Suljovic.

Jason Heaver enjoyed a 3-1 debut win over late Australian call-up Gordon Mathers, and he will now meet Danny Noppert, while Maik Kuivenhoven brushed aside Australian youngster Ky Smith by the same scoreline to set up a clash with James Wade.

PDC World Championship: Sunday results and Monday schedule

Sunday December 19
Afternoon Session (12.30pm GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Maik Kuivenhoven (88.88) 3-1 (79.36) Ky Smith (R1)
(Set scores: 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-1)
Jason Heaver (84.28) 3-1 (81.61) Gordon Mathers (R1)
(Set scores: 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
Alan Soutar (89.46) 3-2 Diogo Portela (90.29) (R1)
(Set scores: 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
Stephen Bunting (88.36) 2-3 (94.34) Ross Smith (R2)
(Set scores: 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)

Evening Session (7pm GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Martijn Kleermaker (91.17) 3-1 John Michael (83.37) (R1)
(Set scores: 3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0)
Florian Hempel (89.187) 3-0 (88.52) Martin Schindler (R1)
(Set scores: 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
Steve Beaton (90.69) 3-2 (88.74) Fallon Sherrock (R1)
(Set scores: 3-2, 2-3, 3-0, 0-3, 3-1)
(8) Jonny Clayton (103.7) 3-2 (95.85) Keane Barry (R2)
(Set scores: 3-1, 2-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-0)

Monday December 20 (7pm GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts