Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock each walked away with a title at the PDC Women’s Series Events 17 and 18 on Saturday, solidifying their positions as the second and third highest ranked players in the series. The double‑header took place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, a venue that once again proved to be a fertile ground for high‑quality women’s darts. In Event 17, Lisa Ashton displayed the kind of dominant form that has made her a perennial contender on the circuit.
She breezed through the opening round of sixteen, notching three consecutive whitewash victories that left her opponents without a single leg. Her momentum continued into the quarter‑finals, where she faced Lauren Hall. Despite Hall’s best efforts, Ashton surrendered only one leg before advancing to the semi‑finals.
The semi‑final match pitted Ashton against Grace Ferridge, a talented player from Lancaster known for her precise throwing style. Ashton’s experience shone through as she dispatched Ferridge 5‑1, securing her place in the final. Her opponent in the final was Lauryn Salter, a rising star who had already made a name for herself by reaching the semi‑finals at Event 12 earlier in the season.
Salter’s path to the final was impressive. She defeated Emma Pearce in the quarter‑finals and then overcame Jade Gofford in the semi‑finals, victories that propelled her up the rankings to 16th place. In the championship match, Ashton’s clinical play proved too much for Salter, as she won 5‑0, claiming her third Women’s Series title of the 2026 season. Salter’s achievement, while falling short of the trophy, marked a milestone as she became the first player that year to reach a Women’s Series final, signaling her growing stature in the sport.
The second event of the day, Event 18, saw Fallon Sherrock break Ashton’s winning streak. After a strong showing in the earlier rounds—conceding just a single leg in victories over Hollie McKain and Julie Whitehouse—Sherrock faced Jody Hancock in the quarter‑finals, posting a respectable 93 average en route to a comfortable win.
She then defeated Leanne Topper to move into the last eight, followed by a 5‑0 demolition of Aoife McCormack in the quarter‑finals. Sherrock’s semi‑final clash with Gemma Hayter was a tightly contested affair. After falling behind early, Sherrock rallied to take the match 5‑3, earning her a place in the final against Lisa Ashton.
The final was a rematch of the July Women’s World Matchplay semi‑final, and Sherrock replicated that earlier result by delivering a flawless 5‑0 performance. This victory marked Sherrock’s first Women’s Series title in more than 16 months and underscored her resurgence on the tour. Beau Greaves, who was not present at the Saturday fixtures, retained her lead at the top of the Women’s Series rankings.
With Ashton and Sherrock securing second and third places respectively, the trio now dominates the leaderboard. The significance of these rankings extends beyond the series itself: the top three players at the end of the season will earn spots in the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, while the series leader also secures a place in the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. The detailed results from both events illustrate the depth of competition. In Event 17, the quarter‑finals featured match‑ups such as Lauryn Salter 5‑2 Emma Pearce, Jade Gofford 5‑2 Sue Lowther, Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Grace Ferridge, and Gemma Hayter 5‑3 Aileen de Graaf.
The semi‑finals saw Salter edging Gofford 5‑4 and Ashton overcoming Hayter 5‑4, leading to Ashton’s 5‑0 final triumph over Salter. Event 18’s quarter‑finals included Karolina Ratajska 5‑2 Tracey Dean, Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Trina Gulliver, Gemma Hayter 5‑1 Kirsty Hutchinson, and a dominant Fallon Sherrock 5‑0 Aoife McCormack.
The semi‑finals produced an Ashton win over Ratajska 5‑3 and a Sherrock victory over Hayter 5‑3, culminating in Sherrock’s 5‑0 final sweep of Ashton. Beyond the immediate results, these tournaments highlight the growing professionalism and visibility of women’s darts.
The PDC’s commitment to a dedicated Women’s Series provides a platform for players to showcase their skill, attract sponsorship, and compete for qualification to major televised events. The inclusion of streaming options, such as the NOW platform, and the promotion of related content like the "Love the Darts" podcast, further broaden the sport’s reach and fan engagement. Looking ahead, the race for the remaining World Championship spots will intensify as the season progresses. Players like Greaves, Ashton, and Sherrock will be keen to maintain their form, while newcomers such as Salter aim to break into the top tier.
The upcoming events promise more high‑stakes matches, potential upsets, and the continued evolution of women’s darts as a compelling and competitive arena within the broader world of professional darts.