Taylor: Sherrock will make rivals “nervous”
By Phil Lanning
EXCLUSIVE
PHIL TAYLOR says that whoever faces Fallon Sherrock in the World Championship will be “nervous”.
The 16-times World Champion has been impressed by the oche queen especially the 170 finish to beat Gabriel Clemens in the Grand Slam last month.
Sherrock takes on ex-Lakeside champ Steve Beaton on Sunday in a much-anticipated opening clash at the Ally Pally.
Taylor, 61, believes she will get a place in the Premier League and hopes she can claim a major title.
He added: “I would love to see it happen before I die – I’d love it. If not Fallon, then another lady, but she’s one hell of a player. Very humble, nice lady, but a proper darts player.
“I played her in one of those online challenge matches last year and she took me to the wire. Trust me, I would never let anyone beat me, and I would have beaten her 10-0 if I could.
“But whoever plays Fallon at the world championship is going to be nervous, and I don’t envy them – especially in front of a crowd.
“Her finishing is one of the best I’ve seen, and that 170 she hit to qualify for the knockout stage at the Grand Slam had me out of my seat.
“I watching on TV with my grandson Matthew, who loves his darts, and when she left 170 I said to him, ‘She could do this – I don’t think she’ll get it, but she’ll have a go.’ When she hit the bullseye, it was like, ‘Wow, how about that!’
“You don’t put it past Michael or Gerwyn Price to produce a finish like that, but only the top players can do it under such pressure.
“She had to win that leg or she would have been out. Takes some nerve, that. She can play.
“Premier League? Yeah, maybe. She would be a big draw. I know Barry Hearn has stepped back a bit from running the PDC, but he’s still a clever man. I know that because he used to tell me every day!
“Barry likes picking people who will sell tickets – it’s like boxing.”
*Phil Taylor interview in association with Target Darts.
Images by Taylor Lanning.