"I felt like giving up": From nearly quitting darts to Women's World Matchplay champion as Lisa Ashton silences doubters

Lisa Ashton has admitted she came close to walking away from darts altogether, but showed immense resilience to silence her doubters by becoming the 2025 Women’s World Matchplay Champion. The 53-year-old star produced a vintage performance in Blackpool to lift her first televised PDC title, a moment she described as one of the proudest of her career after a gruelling 18 months on and off the oche as she reflected including to DartsNews.

“It is hard. It was a struggle for me, honestly—I felt like giving up sometimes because people just think, 'Oh it’s fine.' But it’s not. It’s hard work and you have to work back up,” Ashton revealed. “I just determined I’ll get there and then prove to people who keep saying, ‘No, she’s finished,’ that I’m not.”

That determination was on full display throughout the tournament. In the final against Fallon Sherrock, Ashton survived match darts before holding her nerve to seal the title in dramatic fashion. Despite all her experience, she admitted she feared her opportunity had slipped away when Sherrock missed chances to close out the match. “Yes, I always think I’ve missed my chance because Fallon’s a big player and never misses much. So when she missed, I thought, ‘All I can do is put her under pressure,’ and hopefully take my chances which I did.”

The win was the culmination of months of rebuilding—physically, technically and mentally. Ashton spoke candidly about the challenges of regaining her rhythm after undergoing operations that forced her to alter her throwing action. For someone whose game was so instinctive for so long, the adjustment wasn’t just mechanical, it was emotional. “Everybody just thinks, ‘She’s back,’ and you’re going to hit the heights. I wasn’t. I’ve worked hard to strengthen up and get my throw back on, because I’ve had to change it from what I used to do with operations and stuff. But I’ve worked hard and it’s paying off now.”

One of the key turning points came in the semi-final against Beau Greaves. Trailing in the match, Ashton nailed a spectacular 140 checkout at a critical moment, something she credits with turning the tide. “I’m happy it went in. It changed the game for me and gave me a bit more confidence. All I could do was take it out and put the pressure back on Beau because she was missing doubles. I took my chance and thought, ‘Just keep going, she’s got to think about it.’”

That win over Greaves who had never previously lost on the Winter Gardens stage was one of Ashton’s most impressive victories in recent years. But even in the immediate aftermath of such a high, she remained focused, determined not to get swept away by the occasion before the job was done. “I just kept believing in myself. Everyone talks about Beau, and I thought, ‘All I need to do is stay relaxed.’ I didn’t think about who I’d just beaten—I just played my game. Everyone automatically says, ‘Oh, you’ve done Beau,’ and all that. But I just took it game by game, stayed calm, and didn’t focus on who I was playing.”

Ashton’s triumph also means a return to the Grand Slam of Darts after a three-year absence—a fact she said hadn’t even crossed her mind during the competition. “I didn’t even think about that! I’m just finding out now, it gets me in this, gets me in that. I just wanted to concentrate on this and win it. I’m going to enjoy celebrating this, then think about the rest.”

The Blackpool crowd were right behind her from the first dart to the last, and Ashton acknowledged how much their support meant, especially after all she’s been through. “The support has been electric out there for me, being on my home turf. Some of the games and darts I’ve played, the crowd shouting for me really lifted me and got me over the winning line. I couldn’t ask for better.”

Now a champion once again, Ashton joked about the physical demands of tournament play, especially when compared to the younger generation now rising through the ranks. But underneath the humour is a clear message, she’s not done yet. “These girls are a lot younger than me, and getting up and down the steps is taking its toll now! But no, I keep sticking at it. I never give up no matter what—and that’s just me. It’s about believing in myself again.”

Her victory also capped off a dream weekend, having won the UKDA Ladies Pairs title with her daughter Lindsay just days earlier, a moment Ashton says made the whole experience even more special. “Oh absolutely, yeah. I’ve never played in a major tournament with Lindsay, so it was nice to do the pairs with her and then top it off this weekend with her. To have played with Lindsay and won that one with her, and then hear Danielle come on with them famous words—my family, my husband, all the support I’ve had and the crowd. It’s kept me going. I’m so happy the kids are doing it with me and I’m still going.”

Reflecting on her legacy and the future of the women’s game, Ashton expressed pride in how far things have come and excitement for where it’s heading. “There are so many young ones coming through, but we’re showing that us oldies aren’t out of it yet—we’re still here. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, the women’s game is improving all the time. You just never give up. I’ll do as much as I can, but what Beau has done is unbelievable. She’s just on another level.”

Lisa Ashton may have had her doubters. She may even have doubted herself at times. But after lifting the Women’s World Matchplay trophy, on home soil, in front of her family and fans, the message is clear: the Lancashire Rose is far from finished.