Fallon Sherrock pulled off an upset off the sporting Richter scale as she knocked eleventh seed Mensur Suljovic out of the World Darts Championship in Round Two at Alexandra Palace.
Sherrock, who became the first female ever to win a match in a PDC World Championship by defeating Ted Evetts four days earlier, eclipsed that result with an astonishing 3-1 scalp of Austrian ace Suljovic.
Sherrock’s ground-breaking win over Evetts had generated headlines worldwide and produced a new level of expectation, but the 25-year-old took it all in her stride as he continued her trail-blazing exploits in the sport’s show-piece.
The former women’s world finalist hit 69 percent of her double attempts and sealed the monumental win with an 86 checkout on the bullseye to create a further slice of history.
“I can’t believe it,” said Sherrock, who will return on Friday December 27 to take on Chris Dobey in the Last 32.
“I’m still waiting for it all to sink in.
“I’ve knocked out one of the best players in the world and it has given me the best feeling in the world.
“I was so happy when that bullseye went in. It was an amazing moment for me and I’ll be jumping around when I get home.
“I felt so comfortable and I really enjoyed it – I just want to get up there and play again.”
Suljovic looked like he had taken control from the outset when he won the first two legs, but consecutive finishes of 81, 131 and 70 saw Sherrock steal the opening set.
She then added checkouts of 104 and 64 to make it five legs on the spin but it was Suljovic’s turn to come from behind as he won the next three legs to level the match.
The Austrian took the the first two legs in the third set but Sherrock hit back again, winning the next three with the aid of an 11-darter that began with back-to-back 180s for her second time in the tournament.
Suljovic took a 2-1 lead in the fourth set before Sherrock took out 68 to level and, after her opponent missed a dart at tops to force a fifth set, she punished him in style with a clinical 88 finish on the bull.
Elsewhere, Dimitri Van den Bergh posted the highest average of the tournament so far as he breezed past Josh Payne in the final match of the second round.
The Belgian star completed a straight sets victory with a three-dart average of 103.81, hitting three 180s and a 124 checkout in an impressive start to his campaign.
“I gave my best and I’m glad to be through,” said the two-time World Youth Champion.
“A couple of months ago I was really struggling but I have found some belief and I took it on stage tonight.”
Daryl Gurney made light work of Justin Pipe as the former World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals winner completed a 3-0 triumph.
Pipe took the first leg with a 104 checkout but Northern Ireland’s number one reeled off nine of the next ten legs to progress.
“He took out the 104 but there was no catching me after that,” said Gurney. “I’ve been working on my throw and made a small correction which seems to have helped.
“I know I’m going to be in for a real battle in the next match so I’ll come back ready for that.”
Gurney will take on Glen Durrant in the third round after the Teessider eased past Australia’s Damon Heta in straight sets to mark a dream debut in the PDC World Championship.
The reigning and three-time Lakeside Champion added the tournament’s sixth 170 checkout in an impressive Ally Pally bow.
Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis won a thrilling battle against Spain’s Cristo Reyes, coming back from two sets down to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Lewis narrowly missed double 12 for a nine-darter as he rallied back from the brink to move into the third round, where he will play Darren Webster.
“If I play like I did in the last few sets then I’ll be fine but if I play like I did in the first two then I’ll be in trouble,” said Lewis, the 2011 and 2012 World Champion.
“If I can almost hit a nine-darter it shows that I’m playing pretty well and I feel like I can carry that form on.”
Simon Whitlock eased past Harry Ward with a straight sets success, in which the Australian number one dropped just two legs.
Former World Championship finalist Whitlock will face Mervyn King in round three as he bids to reach the last 16 for the first time in six years.
“I’ve been practising harder than ever for this,” said Whitlock, the 2010 runner-up. “I’ve put in around 100 hours on the board at home in the last six weeks and I feel like that made all the difference today.”
Ryan Searle’s 101.54 average is currently the second highest of the 2019/20 World Championship so far as he defeated Steve West by three sets to nil.
Devon darter Searle won every set 3-2 to book his place in the last 32, where he will take on two-time World Champion Gary Anderson.
Seigo Asada completed a great escape to stun Keegan Brown, who won the first seven legs of their dramatic tie before falling to a tie-break defeat against the Japanese ace.
Asian Tour star Asada took the final set 4-2 with a match-winning 11-darter to set up a Third Round clash with Peter Wright.
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William Hill World Championship 2019/20 Results
Saturday December 21
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Keegan Brown 2-3 Seigo Asada
Simon Whitlock 3-0 Harry Ward
Steve West 0-3 Ryan Searle
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Cristo Reyes
Evening Session
Daryl Gurney 3-0 Justin Pipe
Glen Durrant 3-0 Damon Heta
Mensur Suljovic 1-3 Fallon Sherrock
Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-0 Josh Payne