Fallon Sherrock has been the star of the current Darts World Cup. With her victory in the second round against Mensur Suljovic, the 25-year-old made history: she is the first woman to win a game at the World Cup and now the first woman to make it into the third round.
That was "her most beautiful Christmas present ever," said Sherrock after the 3-1 win over Suljovic. The Austrian gave his opponent a quick hug and then quickly disappeared from the stage. It belonged entirely to Sherrock. Before that, about 3000 people had already tuned in a song for them at Alexandra Palace: "There's only one Fallon Sherrock!", Based on "Taylor Wonderland", the catch song for record world champion Phil Taylor. The English woman is so popular at the moment that she has already been called the "Queen of the Palace".
After Sherrock's victory, Taylor replied via Twitter: "It was absolutely brilliant, Fallon Sherrock. Now on to the next task. Great job, I'm very happy for you," he wrote.
SHERROCK HAS DONE IT AGAIN !!!
She beats Mensur Suljovic 3-1 to repeat history and book her place in the Third Round.
INCREDIBLE SCENES !!! pic.twitter.com/jXhQNuBSk8
Eddie Hearn, chief of the Professional Darts Corporation, found Sherrock's success simply "incredible".
Incredible! Fair bloody play! https://t.co/Ca6r9Xx0ND
- Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) December 21, 2019The former top tennis player Billie Jean King had already noticed her at Sherrock's first victory. King also congratulated her on winning the second round, who has always campaigned for equality between men and women in sport.
Congratulations to @Fsherrock, who has just defeated the World No. 11 player to advance to the 3rd round of the #WorldDartsChampionship! Earlier this week, she became the 1st woman in history to win a match in the championship! #Gamechanger https://t.co/qsbrt6VxWT
- Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 21, 2019How the World Cup of the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) and the pure women's World Cup of the BDO (British Darts Organization) differ is best illustrated by the prize money. Sherrock has already raised £ 25,000 after two wins and the third round of the current PDC World Championship - she would have had to win the women's tournament twice. If she manages another surprise against Chris Dobey (Friday 2.45 p.m., SPIEGEL live ticker, TV: Sport1, DAZN), Sherrock would win more prize money alone than would be distributed to all women World Cup participants.
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After her victory over Suljovic, Sherrock was also asked if she could even become world champion. "Why not?" She asked back, "I've won two games and will take each game as it comes. I'm not saying I can't do something. I'll try."
First of all, Sherrock has a break. There are no World Cup games at Christmas. The holidays seem to be almost inconvenient for her. Sherrock said, "I just want to get back on stage and play again."
All results of the Darts World Cup can be found here.
