Fallon Sherrock became the first winner of the Women’s World Matchplay, beating Aileen de Graaf 6-3 in the Final including a fantastic 142 checkout in the sixth leg. The Milton Keynes thrower takes home the trophy and £25,000 after beating Katie Sheldon in the Quarters and Lorraine Winstanley in the Semi Final.
The Queen of the Palace started off losing the opening leg of the Final thanks to a brilliant 100 checkout from the tournament number four, hitting double ten to lead 1-0. The 28-year-old responded with an 87 checkout on double seven to level before hitting the first maximum of the Final in the fourth leg.
The two-time Lakeside Semi Finalist punished missed darts at double from her opponent, hitting double ten again to level the match at 2-2 before taking the lead on double sixteen, giving the Ally Pally victor cause for major concern in the fifth leg.
However, there is a reason the Buckinghamshire thrower is the trailblazer for women’s darts finding her second maximum and a 142 finish on double eleven, breaking to level the Final at 3-3. Sherrock reeled off the last four legs closing out with an 85 checkout on double five to become the first name onto the Women’s World Matchplay Trophy.
De Graaf can certainly hold her head up high for her achievements on Sunday afternoon, being involved in a classic Semi Final with tournament number 1 Lisa Ashton winning a last leg decider 5-4. The 32-year-old broke in the final leg hitting double eight, punishing many missed darts from the Lancashire Rose including four in the fourth leg.
The Bunschoten born thrower beat Darts World’s very own Laura Turner 4-1 in the second tungsten tussle of the day, despite the 38-year-old missing no darts at double finishing 73 on double eight in the third leg.
A history maker who has now conquered the Palace and the Gardens, again inspiring many that the women’s game is certainly on the up.
18-year-old Katie Sheldon certainly gave Sherrock a scare in the third Quarter Final, checking out 86 to win her first leg before breaking on 74 hitting tops, and leading 2-1 in a race to four.
The 2015 Lakeside finalist averaged 82.31 in dispatching third seed Lorraine Winstanley 5-2 in the Semi Finals, including a maximum as she closed out the seventh leg on double five having lost the last two legs of the match.
An entertaining afternoon in the Winter Gardens only promises to get better as the Betfred World Matchplay Final fast approaches tonight. Gerwyn Price yesterdays 9 dart hero and now World Number 1 looks for his first Phil Taylor trophy with two-time back-to-back champion, and Premier League winner Michael van Gerwen looking for his third victory in Blackpool live on Sky Sports.
2022 Women’s World Matchplay Results
Quarter Finals:
Lisa Ashton (1) 4-0 Chloe O’Brien (8)
Aileen de Graaf (4) 4-1 Laura Turner (5)
Fallon Sherrock (2) 4-2 Katie Sheldon (7)
Lorraine Winstanley (3) 4-3 Rhian Griffiths (6)
Semi Finals:
Aileen de Graaf (4) 5-4 Lisa Ashton (1)
Fallon Sherrock (2) 5-2 Lorraine Winstanley (3)
Final:
Fallon Sherrock (2) 6-3 Aileen de Graaf (4)
—ENDS—–
Images: Taylor Lanning/PDC
The above originally appeared as three previews in our (Free) supplemental publication: Darts World Extra
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