Fallon Sherrock to Take Year-Long Darts Hiatus in 2026 to Focus on Health
Fallon Sherrock, the trailblazing “Queen of the Palace,” announced on May 27, 2025, during the Armageddon exhibition in Leicester, that she will take a year-long break from professional darts starting in 2026 to address ongoing health issues. Speaking to Online Darts, the 30-year-old said, “I just need to get myself well again, and then once I’m well, I feel the sky is the limit because I know I can do it.” Her decision, reported by *The Irish Sun* and *GB News*, reflects struggles with stamina and practice limitations that have impacted her performance, forcing her to withdraw from recent exhibitions. Despite this, Sherrock aims to end 2025 strongly, targeting the Grand Slam of Darts and a fifth PDC World Championship appearance.
Sherrock’s 2025 season showcased her resilience. She won three PDC Women’s Series titles (Events 1, 4, and 23), securing her World Championship spot, but a 4-1 loss to Neuza Araujo in Event 24 cost her a Grand Slam berth, per *Sky Sports*. At the World Championship, she fell 3-2 to Ryan Meikle in the first round on December 17, 2024, missing a high-profile clash with Luke Littler. “I’m gutted to lose, but I gave it everything,” she told *The Express*, revealing she had been “poorly” but was on the mend. Her health challenges, including a kidney condition treated in 2017, have persisted, limiting her practice to less than desired, per *Wikipedia*.
The Milton Keynes native made history in 2019 as the first woman to win matches at the PDC World Championship, defeating Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic, earning her iconic nickname. Her 2022 Women’s World Matchplay title and a televised nine-darter in 2023 on the Modus Super Series cemented her legacy, with 20 Women’s Series titles and a 2021 Nordic Darts Masters final, per *PDC.tv*. However, health setbacks and the COVID-19 pandemic stalled her momentum. “I’ve had to pull out of exhibitions because I haven’t had the stamina,” she admitted, per *GB News*.
Supported by partner Cameron Menzies, a fellow darts player, Sherrock remains optimistic. “Fingers crossed, in a couple of years I’ll be back to winning,” she said, per *The Irish Sun*. Fans on X, like @DartsNews02, expressed support, posting, “Fallon Sherrock announces extended break from darts at the end of 2025 season: ‘I need to get myself well again’ #darts,” reflecting the community’s hope for her recovery. Sherrock’s break is a bold step to prioritize health, with her sights set on a triumphant return.[
