- 30-year-old made history as first woman to win a World Championship match
- But Sherrock has struggled with kidney disease since her 2014 diagnosis
- The player was knocked out of this year’s showpiece tournament in round one
Darts star Fallon Sherrock has revealed that she is set to take a step back from the sport and will not compete in any major tournament in 2026 due to health issues.
The ‘Queen of the Palace’ has been a trailblazer for the sport since she became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship in 2021.
Sherrock later became the first woman to reach the last-16 of a major mixed-gender darts tournament at the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts, making the quarter-finals that year before she was defeated by Peter Wright.
But amid her rise to fame, Sherrock revealed that she has struggled with kidney disease since her 2014 diagnosis.
The 30-year-old has been outspoken about the challenges of living with her condition, which saw her receive treatment in 2017.
Sherrock has previously shared that due to taking multiple medications to combat the disease has given her a ‘moon face’.
Fallon Sherrock has revealed that she will be taking a step back from competitive darts
The ‘Queen of the Palace’ has been struggling with kidney disease for over a decade
However, her statement this week appeared to confirm that Sherrock is continuing to struggle with the management of her condition, with the player adamant that getting healthy must be a priority over competing in her sport.
‘All I want is to practice at home for a few hours a day – but I can’t do that,’ Sherrock told Online Darts. ‘I’ve also had to cancel a few exhibition events recently because I simply lack the stamina.
‘I just have to find myself again. I have to get healthy again – and once I’ve done that, anything is possible.
‘That’s why I’ve had to severely limit the tournaments I participate in – and that hurts because I love darts.
‘I just hope that I’ll be fit again in a year or two and come back really well.’
In the wake of her appearance at this year’s World Championship, Sherrock was candid after her first-round defeat to Ryan Meikle about how limited she has felt living with kidney issues.
‘My main goal is, of course, the World Championship,’ Sherrock said. ‘But I also definitely want to be part of the Grand Slam – because I think if I really am going to take a year off next year, I want to make a statement beforehand.’
Sherrock was knocked out of this year’s World Championship after defeat to Ryan Meikle
Sherrock’s partner Cameron Menzies also struggled at Alexandra Palace in mid-December
Both Sherrock and her fellow professional boyfriend Cameron Menzies were unable to get through the first round at this year’s World Championship.
Menzies broke down in tears in the wake of his upset defeat to world No130 Leonard Gates, in part due to the stress of playing while his father was unwell.
‘He tries to make a joke of the man flu, and everything else like that, but it’s obviously the pressure and excitement of his dad being ill and also playing in the biggest stage in his sport,’ his manager Tommy Gilmour said after the match.
