Fallon: Worlds place an early Christmas present

FALLON Sherrock is revelling in her early Christmas present after being handed a World Championship return – and she says she has received a positive reaction to her inclusion.

Sherrock, who rose to stardom after her exploits at the tournament three years ago saw her reach the third round, earned a spot at the Alexandra Palace as a result of her victory at the inaugural Women’s Matchplay in July.

That prize was not announced until last week and came just a week after she revealed that she had received hate from some of her competitors on the women’s tour.

Sherrock, known as the ‘Queen of the Palace’, says she has received some congratulations and is thrilled at the prospect of going back.

“I am really happy about it, I am ecstatic,” she told the PA news agency ahead of the tournament which begins on December 15. “When I was told, I was jumping up and down, so I can’t wait. It was a little bit of a surprise. I thought I’d have to wait until next year, so it was a nice little surprise. It was an early Christmas present.

“I’ve had some congratulations and well done from other people and things like that, my phone didn’t blow up to be honest – I haven’t had anything bad or anything like that.

“I have stayed off social media because that is where everyone’s opinion goes, but if anyone has had an opinion that isn’t great, they haven’t said it to me anyway.

“I don’t feel pressure to perform because I have shown what I can do anyway. I don’t feel I have to perform – I feel like I’m going to perform.

“I won the Matchplay, it’s not like I haven’t won anything. I am just going to go there and enjoy it. I am going to just go and show everyone ‘I can play darts believe it or not’.”

Meanwhile, former three-time BDO world champion Glen Durrant has announced his retirement from professional darts. Durrant, 52, won the BDO world title for three years in a row from 2017 before joining the PDC, where his highlight was winning the 2020 Premier League.