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Darts pundit Chris Mason says scrutiny over Fallon Sherrock’s place in the World Series comes from people “who don’t understand the industry”.
Fallon, the best-known female player on the planet, is among the PDC representatives in this year’s World Series, an invitational tour which started with the US Masters in New York last weekend. Copenhagen is hosting the Nordic Masters this weekend before further events in the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand before it concludes with a finals tournament back in the Netherlands in September.
Many fans have criticised Sherrock’s participation in the World Series on social media because she does not have a PDC tour card. Those critics were given further ammunition after the Queen of Palace was beaten at the first hurdle in New York by Leonard Gates.
However, former World Championship semi-finalist Mason, now a pundit for ITV, says Sherrock is deserving of her place and is central to the PDC’s efforts to grow the game worldwide.
Speaking after Sherrock’s valiant 10-6 defeat to Michael Smith in the Nordic Masters, Mason said: “Let’s not forget how far she went in the Grand Slam [in 2021]. She made the final here [last year]. She’s always going to come under scrutiny, but this is an invitational event. If the PDC wanted me in it… they could put anyone in it.”
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When fellow pundit Alan Warriner-Little said some people would always question Sherrock’s place at the sport’s top table, Mason added: “It’s only by people who don’t understand the industry. This is marketing, there’s expertise behind it, it’s why we’ve eventually found a woman who can be a poster girl for the sport.
“And slowly but surely there’ll be more and more because they can see the potential. Becoming a professional female darts player wasn’t an option years ago, now there is an opportunity. To grow the game [for women], you have to have your poster girl.”
Warriner-Little agreed, adding: “It’s gaining some momentum. It’s the bigger picture and Fallon is a big part of it.”
- Fallon Sherrock
- Darts
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