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Fallon Sherrock Becomes First Woman to Win Match at the World Darts Championship

Gianni Verschueren@ReverschPassFeatured ColumnistDecember 17, 2019

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17:  Fallon Sherrock reacts after winning her 1st round game against Ted Evetts to become the first female to win a game in the PDC World Championships during Day 5 of the 2020 William Hill Darts Championship  at Alexandra Palace on December 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Fallon Sherrock made history at the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to win a world championship match in a 3-2 triumph over Ted Evetts. 

The 25-year-old needed two darts to find double 18 for the final checkout:

PDC Darts @OfficialPDC

SHERROCK MAKES HISTORY. Fallon Sherrock has become the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship. Just look at these scenes, a history making moment for darts. https://t.co/zqoOeyQLmt

PDC Darts @OfficialPDC

Fallon Sherrock’s winning moment perfectly captured by @talkSPORT2 https://t.co/M2zkNOwagh

The fourth-ranked women's player in the world fell behind 2-1 but improved as the match wore on. She had six perfect darts and a 13-darter in the second set, finishing the match with an average of 91.14 and two ton-plus finishes.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17:  Fallon Sherrock reacts after winning her 1st round game against Ted Evetts to become the first female to win a game in the PDC World Championships during Day 5 of the 2020 William Hill Darts Championship  at Alexandra Palac
Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Per BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez, Sherrock struggled to believe what she accomplished after the win:

"I am speechless. I don't know what to say. Thank you every one. 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 rather than go out.

"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."

Congratulations poured in, including from the official account of the FIFA Women's World Cup:

FIFA Women's World Cup @FIFAWWC

"Fallon Sherrock smashes the glass ceiling." Amazing.🎯 https://t.co/DDIMdjJDS0

The Guardian's Aaron Bower believes it's a massive moment for the sport:

Aaron Bower @AaronBower

And what about darts - the sport ‘played by fat old men with beer bellies’ - producing moments like this. Women beating men fair and square in the biggest tournaments sport has to offer. Darts should rightly milk this. It should be just the start because the players are there

Former darts professional Wayne Mardle also weighed in:

Wayne Mardle @Wayne501Mardle

What a day for Fallon Sherrock! What a day for Darts! What a day for women’s sport! What a day for sport! #WorldDartsChampionship

The tournament's other female qualifier, Mikuru Suzuki, nearly beat Sherrock to the punch, losing to James Richardson in a decider on Sunday. Suzuki was this year's BDO World Champion, beating Lorraine Winstanley in the final.

Sherrock will face Austria's Mensur Suljovic in the second round. Suljovic has made the last 16 of the World Championship three times, including in 2018, and is a former Champions League winner.