'What a day': Female player beats male opponent for groundbreaking darts history
Fallon Sherrock has become the first female darts player to beat a man at the PDC World Championship.
Sherrock, a former runner-up at the women's world championship, recovered from losing the opening set to beat Ted Evetts 3-2 in front of a raucous crowd at Alexandra Palace in London.
The Englishwoman made six 180s — a perfect score over three darts — and had a match average of 91.12 in their first-round match.
She clinched the victory with a second attempt at double 18.
"I'm speechless, I don't know what to say!" she told Sky Sports.
"I feel really happy as I've made something for women's darts. I've proved that we can play the men and can beat them, so hopefully this puts us in the right direction.
"I've loved every minute of it and I'm so happy I get to continue it rather than go out in the first round."
Female players coming to the fore
Women's world champion Mikuru Suzuki took James Richardson to a sudden-death leg in the fifth set before losing on Monday.
Three other women - Gayl King, Anastasia Dobromyslova and Lisa Ashton - have previously played matches at a PDC World Championship, darts' flagship event.
Analyst Laura Turner told Sky Sports: “Fantastic. I know I’ve sounded like a broken record but I’ve been championing the women’s game for so long. I knew they could do it!
“Mikuru came so close and I’m just so proud of the performance that Fallon put in. She averaged 91, she played phenomenal. I felt for Ted, but he was in a match, felt the pressure and she just capitalised.
“That’s where it needs to be. You need to forget it’s a woman, forget it’s a man and realise these are just top quality darts players."
Fans were also over the moon.
What a day for Fallon Sherrock! What a day for Darts! What a day for women’s sport! What a day for sport! #WorldDartsChampionship
— Wayne Mardle (@Wayne501Mardle) December 17, 2019
Owned it
— Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) December 17, 2019
Brilliant TV. Amazing stuff.
— Karl O’Shaughnessy (@OShaughnessyK) December 17, 2019
Scenes
— Gaz (@UtdGazza) December 17, 2019
Omg omg omg
Fallon Sherrock has made history 🎯🎯🎯
She is the first lady to win at the ally pally in the PDC World Championships
Absolutely bloody brilliant
Your a star— Ladies Darts Org (@LadiesDartsOrg) December 17, 2019
with agencies