ORDER OF PLAY
Sherrock knew icon Billie Jean she had done something King lauded her on Twitter
And to complete the greatest upset in darts history on the bullseye was pure gold, frankincense and mirth.
She will compose a reply to Billie Jean’s goodwill message and then tackle her biggest test of a momentous week yet: facing the public to go out Christmas shopping.
If Sherrock hopes anonymity will be kind to her, she hasn’t got a prayer.
She said: “I will tweet back to her eventually. I’ll think of a response. I will do that socially.
“I am surprised it has blown up as much as it has. Who would have thought the response would have been worldwide? I thought it would be just the people who knew about darts, just normal people.
“If people didn’t know darts, they know about darts now. They want to watch it, want to play, inspire more people to play it... that is insane.
“Obviously, I like to inspire people and I try to help people as much as I can. If I can be a role model and leader, I am happy to do that. This week has been manic, and I love it. I don’t want it to end. I have just beaten one of the best players in the world – if you had told me I would do that a few weeks ago, I would have thought you were having a laugh.”
Sherrock can now prepare for a Christmas like no other. On December 27, she will play mercurial Geordie Chris Dobey for a place in the last 16.
That’s the last 16 players left at the WORLD Championship, not some all-comers night down at the Dog and Duck. She is already on a guaranteed payday of £25,000 and beating Dobey will be worth another 10 grand on top.
“It instantly changes my life,” she said. “Right now, I can’t think how it will affect my life, but it will definitely change it.”
Sherrock has already unwrapped “the best Christmas present I’ve ever had” by toppling Suljovic, and now it’s five-year-old son Rory’s turn.
“I will practise the same amount that I normally do on Christmas Day – I will do about four hours anyway,” said Sherrock.
“I am not going to change anything. It’s working, it’s my job. I won’t go over it, I won’t go below it.
“My son is always up early, and on Christmas
Day I will probably be up about 5.30am. So, hopefully he has a sleep during the day.
“If not, I will get my other family members to look after him for a few hours. I can have a throw on the dartboard, probably after lunch and opening presents. My little boy can play with his toys and enjoy it.
“But I haven’t been out yet. I cannot imagine what Christmas will be like when I go out to get presents. That will be exciting.
“I would normally be practising for the BDO Ladies World Championship at this time of year, but I have never practised on Christmas Day before – now I will have to because I have a game two days later. That will be different to normal.”
With respect, the Pink Princess can say goodbye to normality. She is headline news.
“I am hoping I can just go out and walk down the street, go to the shop and no one knows who I am,” added Sherrock. Good luck with that one, Shezza. And Merry Christmas.
JAMES WADE’S latest crusade to land an elusive world title came a cropper in disco-loving Steve Beaton’s last-dance saloon.
Bronzed Adonis Beaton, 55, wiggles on stage to the strains of Saturday Night Fever anthem Stayin’ Alive.
But Wade’s hopes of a maiden William Hill PDC World Championship crown expired with a shock 4-2 defeat as Beaton reached the last 16 for the first time in 15 years.
In his 29th consecutive World Championship appearance – equalling Phil Taylor’s record – the 1996 Lakeside world champion said: “It doesn’t get any easier to win this tournament, but it if was easy it wouldn’t be so much fun. It will be 30
Afternoon Session
vEvening Session years at the World Championship next year if I make it – and I still love it.”
Three-time semi-finalist Wade (above), who stormed out of Alexandra Palace without commenting, never recovered from dropping the first two sets.
Meantime, Peter Wright claims he can beat his world record 123.53 average – even though he came within a whisker of a humiliating exit at Ally Pally.
The beaten 2014 finalist, who changed his arrows three weeks ago, meets Seigo Asada tonight believing he can raise the bar even higher than his record average set in Barnsley two months ago.
He said: “With these darts there is more to come.”