"You’re giving them to pub players, so why not give two to women?": Fallon Sherrock calls for more opportunities including UK Open

Fallon Sherrock has once again called for more opportunities for women in televised darts, urging tournament organisers to consider offering UK Open spots to female players rather than just local amateurs speaking to the media including DartsNews.

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Betfred Women’s World Matchplay, Sherrock didn’t hold back when asked about the idea of a women’s UK Open or more inclusive qualification. “Maybe like UK Open, I mean, you could probably give some women some UK Open spots. That’s what I think,” she said. “You’re always looking for spaces and you’re giving it to people who go to their local pubs and play and stuff. Give some to the women. I mean, just two spaces or something.”

She believes the women’s game is growing rapidly but deserves more visibility and investment. “There’s only eight women at the moment. I’d love to see more, because there are other women that could put on a good performance. And there’s women just underneath who just missed out who are quality players,” she said. “Just expand it a little bit so we’re not just playing one afternoon. Maybe put it in with the men in between. Give us some opportunity to showcase ourselves. Because unless you know it’s on a Sunday, people don’t know about it.”

Sherrock also wants to see longer matches in the women’s game. “Yes, I hate playing best of seven,” she laughed. “As you’ve seen from my past games, I’m better off on a longer format. So I’m obviously going to say yes [to expanding it].”

She was more hesitant when asked about a potential women’s-only World Championship. “I don’t know, because I enjoy playing the men. I actually prefer playing the men to the women. I just feel there’s less pressure when I play the men than there is on the women,” she explained. “I feel like people expect me to do more than what I do, if that makes sense.”

That pressure has eased in recent years thanks to the rise of Beau Greaves, and Sherrock was honest about the effect that has had on her. “It’s just made me feel a bit more at ease when I play now,” she said. “Where Beau is dominating so much, it’s taken so much pressure off me, and I can just go under the radar. When I was at the World Championship the first time, no one really knew who I was anyway. That’s why I liked being the underdog.”

She drew parallels between her own meteoric rise and that of Luke Littler, who became a global sensation after his World Championship debut. “You just get kind of thrown in the deep end and you don’t really understand how… it’s like a shock to the system. No one expects the world to just explode the way it does. You assume it’s going to be kind of a big thing, but you don’t realise how massive it’s going to be. And then when something new happens, the world just goes mental.”

Asked if she’d spoken to Littler about how to handle that level of fame, she smiled: “No, because he’s quite shy, isn’t he? Actually trying to have a conversation with Luke sometimes is a bit hard, because he’s very shy.” And with a grin she jokingly responded if she could just text him: “Oh yeah, because I’ve got Luke Littler’s number.”

Turning to her own form, Sherrock says she’s in a better place now and is working hard on her game. “I’m not doing anything different to what I normally do — not different practice routines — but maybe just doing longer durations. Yes, I’m knackered afterwards, but it might help in the long run.” While 2025 hasn’t been her best year, she did just enough to qualify for Blackpool, and is feeling quietly confident. “I didn’t feel any pressure. I just kind of went with the flow – if it happened, it happened. That’s my mindset at the moment. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself and just enjoy it, just play, and do what I can.”

Looking ahead to her first-round match with debutant Gemma Hayter, Sherrock knows experience could play a role but isn’t underestimating her opponent. “Hopefully all the stage experience I have and playing in front of crowds might help me tomorrow. But Gemma’s a really good player anyway. I’ve got to be on my top game regardless.”

Sherrock also addressed her announcement earlier this year that she may take a break from darts in 2026. That plan, she now says, is more flexible. “I’m going to be playing longer than I anticipated now. It’s just touch and go as to when I might need time out. But at the moment, I’m doing okay to kind of just keep playing.” Her health has improved too. “I feel fine. I feel great. I’m excited. I’m not tired… I’ve just got to keep positive, keep playing, just keep living in the moment. Just not thinking of anything negative.”

Asked how proud she is of everything she’s achieved in her career so far, Sherrock didn’t hesitate. “Very. I could have just given up and gone downhill completely. But I’m happy that I’ve just kept going, kept positive, and just keep looking to the future. I’ve set myself goals, and they’re the ones I want to achieve — rather than just giving up.”

As one of only two players to have played in every edition of the Women’s World Matchplay, Sherrock is aware of the legacy she’s already building. “That’s really good. I just feel like I’m part of this iconic competition. When darts goes absolutely massive — which it will — people will look back and say, ‘Fallon and Beau were the ones that were winning it.’ People will remember.”