Fallon Sherrock's hopes of securing her PDC Tour card suffered a setback after being defeated in her opening match of the first stage of qualifying school.
PDC Qualifying Schools offer any darts player aged 16 or over the opportunity to earn a two-year PDC Tour card, with the qualifying school taking place at venues in the UK and Germany simultaneously over a seven-day period.
The first stage takes place from Monday to Wednesday, with the eight quarter-finalists from each day automatically qualifying for the final stage, while the remaining places in the final stage – up to a total of 128 in each place – are determined by order of merit.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Check out some unforgettable moments from this year's World Darts Championships, including Luke Littler's record-breaking set, some of Barioki and two of the nine archers
Sherrock was playing in the UK School qualifier, held at Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, where she was beaten 5-4 in the final 256 on Monday by Sean Carroll, although she will have opportunities over the next two days to continue qualifying. To the final stage.
The 'Queen of the Palace' shot an average of 83.37 before losing in the first leg, joining Sherrock's Noa Lin Van Leuven – the first transgender player to complete a World Darts Championship by losing early on the opening day.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
It's a difficult time for transgender athletes in the sport, because of the abuse they receive, Noa-Lynn Van Leuven said during the World Darts Championships.
Van Leuven crushed Jordi Josi in her opening match but lost 5-3 to Ricardo Resch in the final 256 stage of the European Qualifying School, held at Wonderland in Kalkar.
Elsewhere, former world champion John Bart lost 5-2 in his opener to Thomas Cromwell, while former world championship runners-up Mark Dudbridge and Andy Hamilton also lost their opening matches to Frankie Ansell and Chris Herds respectively.
Mason Whitlock – the son of former World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock – was beaten 5-1 in his opening match, with Devon Pietersen sent off with a straight leg by Jared Cole in the last 64.
More to follow…
What will happen next at Q-School?
There are 474 players in the first stage in the European qualifying school, with 354 players in the UK qualifying school and players who lose their Tour card at the end of 2024 are exempt from reaching the final stage in either country.
Please use Chrome browser for an easily accessible video player
Watch some light moments from the World Darts Championship in 2025
They will be joined in the final stage by players from the top 16 from the 2024 Winmau Challenge Tour and Development Tour merit orders who do not already have Tour cards for 2025.
Players exempted from the final stage in the UK: Andy Bolton, Keegan Brown, Henry Coates, Lee Cox, Tavis Dudenny, Lee Evans, Callum Goffin, Beau Greaves, Graham Hall, John Henderson, Jamie Hughes, Mervyn King, Aden Kirk, Jim Long, Charlie Manby, Aaron Monk, Josh Payne . , Christian Perez, Daniel Perry, Darryl Pilgrim, Adam Smith-Neal, Graham Usher, Adam Warner, Brandon Winning, Simon Whitlock.
Players exempted from the European final stage: Stefan Belmont, Geoffrey de Zwaan, Adam Gullas, Dominik Gruelich, Andreas Harrison, Dragutin Horvat, Danny Janssen, Daniel Klose, Robbie Nobbs, Boris Krkmar, Mike Kuevenhoven, Darius Labanauskas, Jacques Labrie, Alexander Merckx, Kayden Milne, Geert Nientges, Robbie . – John Rodriguez, Owen Roelofs, Karel Sedlacek, Jeffrey Sparidance, Jurgen van der Velde, Jimmy Van Schie, Danny van Tripp, Marvin van Velzen.
A total of 29 PDC Tour cards will be on offer in the final stage, with each daily winner in the UK and Europe receiving an automatic Tour Card. The remaining 21 round cards for players from the UK and Europe will be allocated Q School Final Stage Merit Badges, and will be divided on a pro-rata basis for the total participants in each region.
Who will win the English Premier League title? Watch all the action, every Thursday, live from 6 February on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more of the best sports with NOW.
