Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FALLON’S HAPPY TO GET HOT DATE WITH AN ADONIS
FALLON SHERROCK landed a dream draw on her return to Alexandra Palace – a date with former world champion and record-breaker Steve Beaton.
If she makes it past the Bronzed Adonis, the Queen of the Palace will meet fiery Belgian Kim ‘Hurricane’ Huybrechts in the second round.
And Sherrock, who made history as the first woman to KO male rivals at the William Hill PDC World Championship two years ago, called on the fancy dress legions to give Beaton (right) a fair hearing, saying: “I hope the crowd will be nice to him.”
The first lady of the oche, who shocked Ted Evetts and No.11 seed Mensur Suljovic in December 2019, was thrilled to land Beaton, 57 – who won the Lakeside world title 25 years ago and will be playing in a record 31st world championship.
Sherrock, who was fourth name out of the hat, said: “It’s an exciting draw and at least I didn’t have to wait long.
“I get to play an icon of the sport and it will be a privilege. Steve will let the game flow and he won’t try anything (gamesmanship), which some players do.
“There were so many former world champions in the draw – I could have got Raymond van Barneveld or Adrian Lewis, but I’m very happy.
“I can’t wait to hear the crowd roar and feel the electric atmosphere again. I’ve waited two years for this and I want to relive it all again.
“I need to focus my practice on set play and get that mentality back in the next couple of weeks, but I can’t wait.”
In a draw top-loaded with intrigue, former world champions Lewis and Gary Anderson could meet in the second round if ‘Jackpot’ beats Matt Campbell.
And people’s champion Barney, making his Ally Pally comeback two years after a short-lived retirement, will face 2018 champion Rob Cross if he beats Filipino outsider Lourence Ilagen.
World No.1 Gerwyn Price (below) will begin his defence of the title on the opening night – December 15 – against Ritchie Edhouse or Lihao Wen.