History was made on Tuesday as Fallon Sherrock became the first female darts player to beat a man at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship. The competition was held at Alexandra Palace in London.
Sherrock was a 6/1 underdog to upset Ted Evetts, who was 2/1 favorite, according to online sportsbook Bet365. Sherrock and Evetts met in the first round of the PDC World Championship.
The 25-year-old from England told the crowd after her victory that she hoped it proved the two sexes were equal in this sport.
“I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say,†an emotional Sherrock said on stage afterwards. “I feel really happy because I have proven something for women’s darts, that women can play the men and beat them, so fingers crossed this is a move in the right direction. I’m over the moon, I can’t believe it!â€
Sherrock is the fifth woman to take part in the men’s PDC world championship, and the fourth since a qualification pathway was created for women last year. That move ensured two places in each year’s 96-player field will go to female players.
Female Darts Players on Point
Sherrock said she hoped professional darts would have more female winners, and Japan’s Mikuru Suzuki almost beat her to history. Suzuki faced James Richardson in the first round on Sunday, and took him to sudden death before falling.
There would be no such slip by Sherrock, despite losing the first set to the 22-year-old Evetts. Sherrock did have an advantage, however, as most of the approximate 3,000 spectators were wildly cheering for her.
In the second set, Sherrock regained her form. Evetts came back to take a 2-1 lead in the third set, but Sherrock squared the match at two, setting up the decisive fifth set.
Final Set Magic for Sherrock
In the final set, Sherrock became the first female darts player to defeat a man in a championship match, sending the partisan crowd into frenzy that made her slightly uncomfortable. She wrote on Twitter how she was sympathetic to what Evetts had to endure.
I would like to thank @SuperTed180 for his kind words post match, he had 3000 people against him and I felt for him. But I had to do my job
— Fallon Sherrock (@Fsherrock) December 17, 2019
“I would like to thank @SuperTed180 for his kind words post match,†Sherrock wrote. “He had 3,000 people against him, and I felt for him, but I had to do my job.â€
Sherrock moves on to face Mensur Suljovic in the second round on Friday. Much like the first round she is a huge underdog. Sherrock is +750 to pull off another upset. Suljovic is the favorite at -1400.
