The experience of the record World Cup participant Steve Beaton is too much for “Darts Queen” Fallon Sherrock. The 57-year-old driving school owner from Coventry becomes a party crash for the euphoric audience at the Darts World Cup in the “Ally Pally” and could ruin Sherrock’s participation in the Premier League.
“I can feel it when you start to get nervous, when you think too much while you play against me.” Fallon Sherrock, currently the best dart player in the world, had that before the start of the world championship in Podcast “Checkout” said about their male opponents. “With some players, especially towards the end of the game, you notice that they think too much when they play against a woman.”
So it was two years ago when Fallon Sherrock became the “Queen of the Alexandra Palace” at the Darts World Cup, based on the venue. At that time, Sherrock became the first woman in World Cup history to defeat a man, the current junior world champion Ted Evetts. In the second round, with Mensur Suljovic, even a player from the extended world elite had to believe in it.
Two years later, the 27-year-old Englishwoman wanted to do a similar run, but instead of a possible third-round hit against world champion Gerwyn Price, Sherrock already ends after round one. In the game against Steve Beaton, who is admired by many fans and players, on Sunday evening she has to deal with a man whose best years may have been a long time ago, but who, unlike many of Sherrock’s competitors, has apparently not thought too much.
Beaton is not impressed
Even Sherrock’s dream start – she quickly takes a 2-0 lead in the first set – cannot impress the “Bronzed Adonis”, who is taking part in the Darts World Cup for the 31st time (!) In a row. With a lot of effort he got his first leg to 1: 2 and followed a strong 99 checkout to equalize. Then he finally puzzles Sherrock with a 126 checkout to win the set. She smiles in disbelief, while Beaton goes into the break consciously cool without any facial expressions.
In set two, Sherrock reports back after Beaton misses a dart on Bulls-Eye to win the set. Sherrock “checks” 40 points confidently over the double 20 to make it 1: 1 in the sets. But Beaton is still not a spark of nervousness. The third sentence is clearly in favor of the 57-year-old driving instructor from Coventry, England. Because Beaton misses the consistency on the doubles in the next sentence, the game goes into the decisive set.
“I had sleepless nights”
The “Bronzed Adonis” starts with a 180 and takes the momentum with it through the set. With a score of 2: 2 in the sets and 2: 1 in the legs for Beaton, the “Darts Queen” is under pressure, but cannot hold out. Beaton makes 68 points with three darts and becomes a party crash. “Fallon played very well, she’s relentless. I really wanted to avoid making a decision,” said Beaton afterwards at the press conference “after one of his toughest games” in his long career. “Of course I was nervous. I had sleepless nights. I’ve always said there’s no reason a woman can’t play as well as a man. Fallon has proven it again.”
Despite the defeat, Sherrock presented himself combative afterwards. “Steve played well. I showed what I can at times, but in the end it wasn’t enough. I always fight to the end. Sometimes I don’t make it, sometimes I will, I’ll never give up.”
She should get another chance at the World Cup next year. Alongside Lisa Ashton, Sherrock is by far the strongest player in the Women’s Series, which was introduced especially for female players. The PDC wants to keep two World Cup starting places ready for women in the future too.
But their goal has long since changed. Sherrock wants to secure the right to play for all tournaments of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) during the qualification for the professional tour in January. “I want to play on the PDC tour regularly. That would make my game even stronger,” she said last on the “Checkout” podcast.
Will Sherrock play Premier League soon?
Before the important qualification is due in mid-January, Sherrock will be excited about January 3rd. On the evening of the World Cup finals, the starting field for the primarily financially lucrative Premier League Darts is traditionally announced. Only the top four in the world rankings have a secure place, the remaining six starting places are awarded by the PDC and the broadcasting station Sky Sports.
Since the Premier League is purely a show event and the results do not count in the ranking list, Sherrock has outsider chances of participation because of its immense pulling power and good marketability. “Of course I want to play in the Premier League. I would go to every game relaxed and just enjoy it, it’s not a ranked tournament.”
A nomination or non-nomination of the “Queen of the Palace” is a heated argument among fans, experts and players. While TV expert and ex-World Cup semi-finalist Wayne Mardle demands Sherrock’s participation in the Premier League most impressively, the reigning world champion and world number one Gerwyn Price considers the idea to be “complete nonsense”. According to Peter Wright, 2020 world champion and currently second in the world rankings, Sherrock deserves a Premier League place. “It inspires women’s darts and the youngsters in schools. The Premier League is the biggest darts show in the world.”
Premier League with or without sherrock? The first round of the World Cup against Steve Beaton should not have helped her. In round three of the Darts World Cup, Sherrock could have proven her Premier League suitability to her critic Gerwyn Price in a direct duel. Instead, the defending champions may face Steve Beaton.
What else is going on at the Darts World Cup?
From a German point of view, the fifth day of the Darts World Cup was all about the German-German duel. Florian Hempel, ex-handball professional in the second and third division, beat Martin Schindler 3-0 on his World Cup debut. Read more about the duel between the two training partners here.
With Jonny Clayton, one of the favorites to win the title made it into the third round of the World Cup with difficulty. The Welshman won 3-2 against 19-year-old Irishman Keane Barry. Clayton, who had won four major tournaments this year, could wait for Gabriel Clemens in the next game. Germany’s best player must first win his opening game on Thursday evening.
Stephen Bunting’s end on Sunday afternoon showed that the World Cup can also end early for seeded players. The Englishman, who surprisingly made it into the semi-finals last year, lost 3-2 to his compatriot Ross Smith.
In a similarly competitive first round match, Alan Soutar had prevailed 3-2 against the Brazilian Diogo Portela. Soutar, who made his debut at the “Ally Pally” at the age of 43, works as a firefighter and trains guide dogs in his spare time. Apparently there is still enough time left for dart training, as his move into the next round shows.
This Monday there are exceptionally no games in the afternoon, but in the evening one of the most successful darts professionals of all time celebrates his World Cup comeback. The five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld meets Lourence Ilagan from the Philippines. “Barney”, a folk hero in the Netherlands, ended his career two years ago after an embarrassing World Cup only to try again a year later. After a more than decent comeback year on the professional tour, van Barneveld is the clear favorite in his first round match in the evening.
“Barney” himself dreams of winning the World Cup one more time, but knows how difficult the task is. “I don’t know if it’s realistic. But the fact is, I have the quality to beat the best players in the world,” said the Dutchman before the tournament “Checkout” podcast. “If I didn’t believe in winning the World Cup, I wouldn’t go to London.”