Dave Chisnall "fancying his chances" against Fallon Sherrock at Ally Pally: “But I’m preparing myself for a hostile reaction"

Dave Chisnall says he’s heading into the 2026 World Darts Championship “fancying his chances” after being drawn against Fallon Sherrock in one of the most talked-about first-round ties.

The 45-year-old, who has a strong record on the Ally Pally stage, acknowledges the “Queen of the Palace” will command huge support once again — but insists his own preparations and recent form leave him confident of progressing.

“Fallon’s a very good player, and has had another good season, but the bookmakers make me favourite and I’ll be fancying my chances to advance to the next round," 'Chizzy' writes in his column for Kwiff. "That’s no disrespect to Fallon, who’s a great player, but I’ve got a good record there and fancy my chances.”

Sherrock became a global headline when she made history at the 2020 World Championship, becoming the first woman ever to win a match on the PDC stage. Chisnall expects her popularity to be felt again when they meet. “I’m preparing myself for a bit of a hostile reaction too. The ladies always get a great reception though, and I remember the crowds there when Fallon beat Mensur at Ally Pally a few years ago – they always want to see the ladies beat the men!”

Chisnall describes the draw as “interesting” and says he’s keeping a close eye on several other match-ups as a keen follower of the sport, but insists his focus is firmly on his own performance. The 45-year-old has been travelling heavily in recent weeks, using a run of exhibition events as preparation for London.

“It’s three weeks away and I’m looking forward to it, but before then I’ll be keeping busy and playing plenty of exhibitions. I’m in Swansea this evening, and will be floating about here and there over Christmas so keep your eyes peeled!”

Chisnall has just returned from a series of exhibitions in Ireland and expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his Irish fanbase.

“I’m just back from four days across The Irish Sea and the response my Irish fans always give us is nothing short of incredible. It’s very humbling to see such warm welcomes everywhere I go and it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to get cheered on and welcomed. I’ll hopefully give them more to shout about next month in the Worlds!”