Fallon Sherrock came agonisingly close to adding another major title to her résumé in 2025, but was edged out by Lisa Ashton in a dramatic Women’s World Matchplay final that underlined both the fine margins at the top of the women’s game and the enduring quality of two of its most influential figures.
The final, played over an extended format that rewarded consistency and nerve, was tight almost from start to finish. Ashton ultimately prevailed by staying marginally stronger in the key statistical areas that decide finals: timing on doubles, control of momentum swings, and the ability to convert pressure into points when opportunities appeared.
From the opening legs, the contrast in styles was clear. Sherrock looked to impose rhythm through steady scoring and selective aggression, while Ashton leaned on her trademark composure and match management. Neither player dominated the scoring phases outright. Instead, the match developed into a tactical contest where legs were often decided by a single visit.
Statistically, the separation was minimal. Both players averaged in the low-to-mid 80s, broadly in line with their tournament form. Sherrock’s scoring was solid, particularly in the middle phase of legs, but Ashton held a slight edge in checkout efficiency. Over the course of the final, Ashton converted a higher percentage of doubles, a difference that proved decisive in a match where breaks of throw were rare and precious.
The pivotal stretch came midway through the contest. Sherrock had chances to level and briefly take control, creating multiple looks at doubles across consecutive legs. She missed narrowly, and Ashton punished immediately, producing a short burst of clinical finishing that opened a small but significant gap. In finals, those moments often define outcomes more than overall averages.
Sherrock’s response was characteristic. Rather than unravel, she stabilised, tightened her scoring, and clawed her way back into contention. Late in the match, she reduced the deficit to a single break, reigniting hopes of a comeback and lifting the atmosphere inside the arena. Yet Ashton, drawing on years of experience in major finals, closed the door with a composed final sequence, refusing to give Sherrock a final opening.
For Sherrock, the defeat was painful but revealing. Reaching the final itself marked a significant achievement in a season shaped by selective scheduling and ongoing health management. Her performance across the tournament showed reduced volatility compared to earlier periods in her career, with fewer extreme low-end matches and a rebuilt competitive floor. That consistency carried her to the final and kept her competitive to the last leg.
The result also reinforced Sherrock’s position within the women’s hierarchy. While Beau Greaves has set a dominant benchmark at the top, Sherrock’s run to the World Matchplay final confirmed her ability to compete with the most experienced and decorated players in the field. Losing narrowly to Ashton, a multiple-time major winner, underlined that gap is measured in moments rather than levels.
For Ashton, the victory was another reminder of her longevity and adaptability. Long established as one of the pioneers of the women’s game, she showed once again that experience remains a powerful asset in pressure environments. Her ability to raise finishing standards at precisely the right time proved decisive, adding another major title to a career defined by resilience and reinvention.
Beyond the individual result, the final reflected the broader state of women’s darts. Finals are no longer one-sided affairs decided by scoring disparity alone. Instead, they are increasingly defined by composure, efficiency, and psychological control. The narrowing margins between the leading players suggest a maturing competitive ecosystem, where outcomes are harder to predict and experience must be matched by execution.
For Sherrock, the immediate disappointment will linger. Finals losses are often more difficult to process than early exits. Yet, in analytical terms, the performance offered encouragement. Her ability to stay competitive deep into a major final, after periods of disruption earlier in her career, suggests that her recalibrated approach is yielding results.
The challenge now is conversion. Turning finals appearances into titles requires small but critical gains, particularly on doubles under pressure. If those margins can be tightened, Sherrock’s data suggests she remains capable of lifting major trophies.
In 2025, the Women’s World Matchplay final did not end in triumph for Fallon Sherrock. But it reaffirmed her place among the game’s elite and showed that, even in defeat, she remains a central figure in the evolving story of women’s darts.
