Fallon Sherrock says she is “excited to see what happens” at this year’s PDC World Darts Championship after being handed a glamour first-round tie against Steve Beaton.
The 27-year-old made history at Alexandra Palace in 2019, becoming the first woman to win a match at the event before going on to reach the last 32 of the competition, where she was eventually beaten by Chris Dobey.
Sherrock (200/1 to win Worlds) did not qualify for the World Championship last year, but she will head into this year’s event in good form following her run to the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts earlier this month.
The “Queen of the Palace” has been handed a tough assignment in the first round, as she will face the vastly experienced Beaton, who at 57, will be making a record 31st appearance at the Worlds.
Should Sherrock overcome Beaton then she will face Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts in round two, and if she can repeat her heroics of 2019 then a potential clash with defending champion and world number on Gerwyn Price (4/1) awaits in the last 32.
Reacting to the draw, Sherrock told Sky Sports: “It’s a very exciting draw, isn’t it? I’m really excited because again I get to play an iconic person in the sport and I’m really privileged to play that and I’m excited to see what happens.
“I’m just so excited. I want to hear the roar again and feel the electric atmosphere. I’ve had great memories from there so hopefully I can relieve it all.”
Top seed Price will begin his title defence against either Ritchie Edhouse or Lihao Wen, while there will be a potential heavyweight tussle between Gary Anderson (40/1) and Adrian Lewis (125/1) in round two, providing the latter overcomes Matt Campbell of Canada in his opening match.
World number two Peter Wright (13/2), who appears to be timing his return to form perfectly following his victory at the Players Championship Finals last weekend, will take on either Ryan Meikle or Fabian Schmutzler in his opening match, while three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen (9/2), who has not won a title this calendar year, will face the winner of the clash between Chas Barstow and John Norman Jnr.
One other name to look out for is Raymond van Barneveld (150/1), who retired from playing after his first-round loss to Darin Young at the Worlds in December 2019, but he has since returned to the circuit and will face Laurence Ilagan in his opening match before a potential showdown with another former champion in Rob Cross (25/1).
The 2022 PDC World Darts Championship will get underway on December 15, with the final scheduled for January 3.