Darts star Fallon Sherrock drops heart-breaking news as she walks away from sport in shock health announcement
Fallon Sherrock’s Heartbreaking Decision to Step Away from Darts in 2026
Fallon Sherrock, the trailblazing darts player dubbed the “Queen of the Palace,” has announced she will take a break from professional darts in 2026 to focus on her health, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the darts community. The 30-year-old, who made history in 2019 as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship, has been battling a kidney condition diagnosed after the birth of her son, Rory, in 2014. This condition, which requires ongoing management with medications, weekly injections, and periodic blood transfusions, has significantly impacted her stamina and ability to practice, forcing her to scale back her participation in tournaments.
In an emotional interview with Online Darts at the Armageddon exhibition in Leicester, Sherrock revealed her struggles, stating, “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… I’ve had to pull out of some exhibitions recently as well, because I haven’t had the stamina.” She expressed the pain of limiting her involvement, saying, “So I’ve had to narrow down what I’m playing in now, and that hurts because I love darts.” Despite these challenges, Sherrock remains determined to end 2025 on a high note, targeting qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts and the PDC World Darts Championship. “I want to make a bang,” she said, emphasizing her goal to leave a lasting impression before her hiatus.
Sherrock’s rise to fame began with her groundbreaking 2019 victories over Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic at Alexandra Palace, earning her global recognition and an MBE in 2023 for services to darts. However, her health struggles, compounded by the side effects of medication causing “moon face” and cruel online abuse, have been a persistent hurdle. Despite these setbacks, she remains optimistic, telling Online Darts, “Fingers crossed though, that in a couple of years’ time I’ll be alright and I’ll be back to winning really well.” Her planned break aims to restore her energy, with hopes of returning to dominate the sport, as she believes “the sky is the limit” once healthy.
