Few in the darts world had heard of Fallon Sherrock before 2019, but now her name is mentioned among the very best in the game.

It was her exploits in the 2020 PDC World Darts Championship in December 2019 that quickly made her a household name, as she became the first female darts player to beat a male competitor in the tournament when she defeated Ted Evetts 3-2 in the first round.

She followed up that result by beating Mensur Suljović 3-1 in the second round. She didn’t make it any further, but her performance won her a new fanbase and earned her the nickname ‘Queen of the Palace’, in reference to Alexandra Palace, where the event was held.

Proving that it was not a one-off, the 27-year-old has continued to exceed expectations and had a great year in 2021.

In September, she reached the final of the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen. An impressive comeback in the semi-final against Dimitri Van den Bergh when trailing 9-3 to win 11-10 earned her a place in the final against Michael van Gerwen.

This was the first time that a female player had reached the final of a televised PDC event. Despite losing 11-7, she had once again made the darts world sit up and take notice.

Sherrock topped the 2021 PDC women’s rankings, which meant that she qualified for the Grand Slam and World Championship.

She put in another impressive performance in the Grand Slam in November by reaching the quarter-finals but was knocked out in the first round of the 2022 World Championship and was unable to replicate her form from two years ago.

A difficult start to 2022

In order to earn a guaranteed spot at the pro events held over the year, players must first hold a PDC Tour Card.

Sherrock’s year did not get off to the best start after she failed to progress through the 2022 PDC Qualifying School. This is an annual tournament where amateur darts players can earn professional status and earn themselves a Tour Card.

Failure to earn a card meant that Sherrock missed out on any chance of being announced as one of the eight players to complete in the 2022 Premier League. Despite calls for her inclusion, players ultimately have to earn the right to be there.

All is not lost though, as she could still have a chance of glory at the newly formed Women’s World Matchplay, which is due to take place in July. This could again earn her a place in the Grand Slam later in the year. This is the closest event to a women’s darts league as, like the men’s Premier League, eight of the best female players compete to be crowned champion.

It is also highly likely that she will be invited to compete in some of the PDC championships over the year due to her commercial appeal.

Her performances have certainly helped to develop and grow the women’s darts game. For now, she will continue to let her darts do the talking.