15 January 2023 , 16:26
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Darting trailblazer Fallon Sherrock will not be on the PDC's pro tour for 2023-24 after failing to secure a card in heartbreaking circumstances at Q School.
Sherrock had given herself a good chance of landing a place on the tour after some impressive displays over the course of the first three days.
She sat 10th in the order of merit going into day four with the top nine players at the end of Sunday's action gaining a place on the pro tour next season.
The 28-year-old won four matches on Thursday before a 6-4 defeat to Stephen Burton in the quarter-finals, but suffered a first-round exit to Darryl Pilgrim on Friday.
Her run to the last-16 on Saturday rekindled hopes of a tour card, winning three matches before going down 6-3 to Lee Evans.
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But Sherrock came unstuck in the last 64 on Sunday, suffering a 6-3 defeat to Robert Collins despite averaging 96.32 - her best at Q School.
Sherrock opened with a 14-dart hold of throw but lost the next three legs and missed doubles proved costly for the 2022 Women's World Matchplay champion.
It means she now cannot finish in the top nine spots, needing to win twice on Sunday to stand any chance of gaining a place on tour.
Sherrock suffered a heartbreaking defeat on Sunday to end her chances of qualification (Ian Stephen/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)After her defeat, she tweeted: "Gutted, but played well all week. Game's definitely there – 2023 looks bright already, gonna smash it.”
Sherrock rose to stardom at the 2020 World Darts Championship with stunning wins over Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic to reach the third round, where she was eventually beaten by Chris Dobey.
She returned to Alexandra Palace for the 2022 edition, losing in the first round to Steve Beaton, and was controversially included in this year's event where she lost to Ricky Evans.
Elsewhere, John Henderson's 12-year stay on the PDC pro tour is over after his 6-4 defeat to Burton ended his chances of finishing high enough on the order of merit.
The Highlander, a World Cup champion for Scotland alongside Peter Wright, has been a long-time fan favourite within the PDC and appeared in the Premier League as a contender in Aberdeen in 2019 and again as a challenger in 2021.