Ricky Evans ended Fallon Sherrock’s hopes of another dream run at the World Darts Championship as the Queen of the Palace encountered double trouble.
After losing the first leg on her throw, Sherrock won the next three to claim the opening set in just eight minutes before a tight second set went Evans’ way 3-2 to make it 1-1 in sets.
The third set followed a similar pattern and also went to a decider. Both players missed doubles, but it was Evans who closed out the leg to go 2-1 up overall.
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Sherrock went 2-0 up in the fourth set but again missed chances to win the set, with Evans pegging it back to 2-2. And the Kettering thrower held his throw to seal the match 3-1 with a classy 107 finish.
In a close match, which saw both players average 89, doubles was the deciding factor with Sherrock hitting just 29 per cent compared to 48 per cent for Evans, whose pre-match walk-on saw him don a Santa beard and hat.
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(Image: Luke Walker/Getty Images)
“I expected it to be tough, but I didn’t expect it to be that tough,” he admitted after the match. “She is so good. The thing is, people are cheering because she’s a lady player without actually respecting how good she is at darts.
“She was the better player in that game. I got away with it but I’m chuffed to bits because she’s a great darts player. I’m so happy because I’ve got nothing to lose now. That is the hardest game you can play in darts.”
Evans will play Premier League runner-up Joe Cullen in the second round on Friday night.
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