Fallon Sherrock is bidding to earn a PDC Tour Card for the first time and become the second woman ever to do so; Sherrock still has more chances to earn one of 32 spots, with Q School event running from January 12-15
Wednesday 12 January 2022 23:14, UK
Fallon Sherrock began the final stage of PDC Q School by suffering a 6-1 defeat to American Danny Lauby in Milton Keynes.
The 'Queen of the Palace' is bidding to become just the second woman, after Lisa Ashton in 2020, to win a PDC Tour Card and join the 128-strong Pro Tour.
One of 128 players competing for 32 places, Sherrock opened up against 29-year-old Lauby, but slipped to a comprehensive defeat to miss her first chance to earn a spot.
The final stage of the event runs from January 12-15, and Sherrock will return on Thursday with another opportunity.
On Tuesday, Sherrock booked safe passage through to the final stage with a 5-2 victory over Wes Newton.
After a first-round defeat on Sunday, followed by a loss in her third match on Monday, it was do-or-die for Sherrock, who knew she needed big performances on Tuesday or she would be eliminated.
The 27-year-old started with a 5-0 whitewash over Robert Whybrew, then defeated Kevin Lane 5-1, before seeing off the 'The Warrior' Newton, in a win which ensured she would get through via the First Stage Order of Merit. Her run was eventually ended at the last-32 stage by Scott Marsh, who prevailed in a last-leg decider.
'The Lancashire Rose' Ashton made a solid start to her bid to regain her PDC Tour Card as she averaged over 90 in beating Nick Fullwell and Josh McCarthy, but her form dipped and she eventually bowed out 6-4 to Gary Blades.
The four-time women's darts champion saw her dreams of a run at the PDC World Championship thwarted at the first-round stage by Dutchman Ron Meulenkamp last month.
James Wilson secured an immediate return to the ProTour, as he defeated Sherrock's partner Cameron Menzies 6-1 to comfortably ensure his return to the professional circuit.
"I feel fantastic - I've played in the Worlds in the first round, and failed to keep my card. I knew I had to come here, kick on and things went really well," said Wilson.
"I just had to keep focused all day and I'm delighted I have done it. With Covid, I couldn't defend my money on the European Tour and fell down the rankings, as well as injuries hampering me.
"Here it is really hard work, but after competing at the World Championship I felt confident I could do it."
Elsewhere in Milton Keynes on Wednesday, Josh Payne landed a nine-dart leg in the deciding leg of his second round victory over Sean Fisher, although he subsequently lost to Kevin Burness in the last 32.
In Europe, meanwhile, Spain's Jose Justicia produced a brilliant performance in the final as he beat Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-0 to secure his Tour Card.
Over 650 players are competing in the 2022 PDC Qualifying Schools from January 9-15, with 32 Tour Cards on offer for players to secure a spot on the PDC circuit for 2022 and 2023.
The competitions are split between Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen in Germany.
The first stage took place between January 9-11, with 128 players progressing to the final stage.
Eight players per day qualified automatically, with all further places going to players from a First Stage Order of Merit in each region.
A total of 32 PDC Tour Cards will be on offer in the final stage from January 12-15, with each of the daily winners in the UK and Europe receiving an automatic Tour Card.
The remaining 24 Tour Cards will be allocated to players from the UK and European Q School Final Stage Orders of Merit, and split on a pro-rata basis of total participants in each region.
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