Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock each walked away with a title on Saturday, dominating Events 17 and 18 of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Women’s Series and cementing their places as the second and third highest ranked players in the circuit. The double‑header took place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, a venue that hosted two intense evenings of high‑quality darts and gave fans plenty of drama to enjoy.
Event 17 belonged to Lisa Ashton, who surged through the early rounds with remarkable consistency. She opened her campaign by delivering three consecutive whitewash victories, cruising through the last‑16 stage without dropping a single leg. In the quarter‑finals she faced Lauren Hall and, despite a tight contest, surrendered only one leg before moving on to the semi‑finals. There, Ashton met Grace Ferridge and dispatched her 5-1, showing a blend of clinical finishing and steady scoring.
The semi‑final turned into a nail‑biting affair against Gemma Hayter; the match went the distance, and Ashton edged it in a deciding leg, demonstrating both nerves of steel and tactical acumen. In the final, Ashton faced the rising talent Lauryn Salter, who had already made history by reaching her first Women’s Series final after a solid run that included wins over Emma Pearce and Jade Gofford in the earlier rounds. Salter, who climbed to 16th in the rankings as a result of her breakthrough performance, fought hard but could not match Ashton’s relentless pace. Ashton completed a flawless 5-0 victory, securing her third Women’s Series title of the 2026 season and reinforcing her status as a dominant force on the women’s circuit.
While Salter fell short of the trophy, her appearance in the final was a milestone. Previously, she had only reached the semi‑finals at Event 12 earlier in the year, so this new achievement highlighted her rapid development and hinted at a bright future in professional darts. Her ascent to 16th place in the rankings underscored the importance of consistency and the impact a single deep run can have on a player’s standing. Event 18 turned the tables, with Fallon Sherrock emerging as the champion.
After a dominant display in the early rounds—dropping just one leg across victories over Hollie McKain and Julie Whitehouse—Sherrock continued her march with a 93 average in a 5-0 win over Jody Hancock. She then eased past Leanne Topper to secure a spot in the last eight, before delivering a commanding 5-0 demolition of Aoife McCormack in the quarter‑finals. The semi‑final presented a familiar opponent: Gemma Hayter, who had previously pushed Ashton to a deciding leg.
Sherrock handled the pressure admirably, winning 5-3 and earning 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 the earlier result by beating Ashton 5-0, claiming her first Women’s Series title of the year and her first on the 2026 circuit after a 16‑month title drought. Sherrock’s victory was particularly significant given the absence of Beau Greaves, the current leader of the Women’s Series rankings.
Greaves did not compete on Saturday, leaving the top spot untouched, while Ashton and Sherrock solidified their positions as the second and third ranked players respectively. The top three finishers in the final Women’s Series standings will earn qualification for the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, with the series leader also receiving an invitation to the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.
The detailed results from the two events are as follows: Event 17 – Quarter‑Finals: • Lauryn Salter 5‑2 Emma Pearce • Jade Gofford 5‑2 Sue Lowther • Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Grace Ferridge • Gemma Hayter 5‑3 Aileen de Graaf Semi‑Finals: • Lauryn Salter 5‑4 Jade Gofford • Lisa Ashton 5‑4 Gemma Hayter Final: • Lisa Ashton 5‑0 Lauryn Salter Event 18 – Quarter‑Finals: • Karolina Ratajska 5‑2 Tracey Dean • Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Trina Gulliver • Gemma Hayter 5‑1 Kirsty Hutchinson • Fallon Sherrock 5‑0 Aoife McCormack Semi‑Finals: • Lisa Ashton 5‑3 Karolina Ratajska • Fallon Sherrock 5‑3 Gemma Hayter Final: • Fallon Sherrock 5‑0 Lisa Ashton Beyond the immediate results, the weekend highlighted the depth of talent in the women’s game and the increasing competitiveness of the series. Players such as Salter and Ratajska demonstrated that the field is expanding, with newer faces capable of challenging established stars. The consistency shown by Ashton and Sherrock suggests that they will remain key contenders for the remainder of the season, while Greaves, despite her absence, continues to dominate the leaderboard.
Fans can follow the ongoing drama through live streams on platforms like NOW, which offers contract‑free access to darts coverage, and catch highlights on Sky Sports. Podcasts such as "Love the Darts" provide additional analysis and behind‑the‑scenes insight into the players' journeys.
As the Women’s Series moves toward its conclusion, the race for the coveted World Championship spots intensifies, promising more thrilling encounters and potential upsets in the weeks ahead. Looking ahead, the top three finishers in the final rankings will secure their places at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, while the series leader will also gain entry to the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. The stakes are high, and the competition remains fierce, ensuring that the 2026 season will be remembered as a pivotal chapter in the evolution of women’s professional darts.