Fallon Sherrock’s Heartbreaking Health Admission Prompts Break from Darts in 2026
Fallon Sherrock, the trailblazing darts star dubbed the “Queen of the Palace,” has announced a heartbreaking decision to take an extended break from professional darts in 2026 to focus on her health, as reported by *The Irish Sun* and other sources. The 30-year-old, who made history in 2019 as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship, revealed her struggles with ongoing health issues that have hampered her ability to practice and compete at her peak. Speaking at the Armageddon exhibition in Leicester on May 27, 2025, Sherrock shared her candid thoughts with Online Darts, saying, “I’m playing alright, I’m not playing the best but I’m getting there. I’m just focusing on each day now rather than thinking too much ahead. I just need to get myself well again, and then once I’m well, I feel the sky is the limit.”
Sherrock’s health challenges have been a recurring theme, notably affecting her performance at the 2024/25 PDC World Darts Championship, where she suffered a first-round loss to Ryan Meikle (3-2) on December 17, 2024. Ahead of that match, she admitted to *The Express*, “I have been poorly. I haven’t publicised it as such. Only a few people close to me actually know about it, but I am on the mend now.” Despite her resilience, the physical toll of her condition has forced her to scale back, including pulling out of recent exhibitions due to a lack of stamina. “All I want to do is practice at home for a couple of hours a day, and I can’t do that at the moment,” she told Online Darts, highlighting the emotional pain of being unable to fully commit to the sport she loves.[](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/fallon-sherrock-health-update-break-35303428)[](https://www.thesun.ie/sport/15305584/fallon-sherrock-darts-break/)
Despite these setbacks, Sherrock remains determined to end 2025 on a high note. She has set her sights on qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts and returning to the World Championship, stating, “If I’m going to have a year out next year, I want to make a bang this year. I want to try and get to everything, and even if I’m not playing to my 100 per cent, at least say that I made it.” Her competitive spirit was evident in her 2025 season, where she won three PDC Women’s Series titles (Events 1, 4, and 23), securing her fifth World Championship appearance. However, a 4-1 loss to Neuza Araujo in Event 24 dashed her hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Grand Slam, a goal she passionately pursued.[]
Sherrock’s career is studded with milestones, from her iconic 2019 World Championship wins over Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic to her 2022 Women’s World Matchplay title. Her 2023 nine-darter at the Modus Super Series, the first by a woman in a televised match, further cemented her legacy. Yet, the physical and mental demands of the sport, compounded by her health struggles, have taken a toll. Supported by her partner, fellow darts player Cameron Menzies, Sherrock remains optimistic, saying, “I know I can do it again, I just need the energy for it first.” As she prepares for her break, the darts world salutes a pioneer whose courage and talent have reshaped the sport, eagerly awaiting her return to the oche in full health.
