Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock each walked away with a trophy on Saturday, dominating Events 17 and 18 of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Women’s Series and solidifying their places as the second‑ and third‑ranked players on the leaderboard. The action unfolded at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, which hosted a packed double‑header of women's darts that saw both seasoned competitors showcase why they are among the sport’s elite. Event 17 began with Ashton in blistering form.
She powered through the opening round, delivering three consecutive whitewash wins that saw her glide past the first sixteen competitors without dropping a single leg. In the round of sixteen she met Lauren Hall and, despite a brief struggle, surrendered only one leg before cruising into the quarter‑finals. Her confidence grew as she faced Grace Ferridge in the quarters, dispatching the Lancaster‑based player 5‑1 with a series of high‑scoring visits and clinical finishing. The semi‑final presented a sterner test: a showdown with Gemma Hayter.
The match stretched to a deciding leg, but Ashton’s composure under pressure saw her edge out Hayter 5‑4, earning a place in the final. Her opponent in the championship match was Lauryn Salter, a rising talent who had already impressed earlier in the year by reaching the semi‑finals of Event 12. Salter’s run to the final was historic for her; she not only recorded victories over Emma Pearce and Jade Gofford in the earlier rounds, but also vaulted to 16th place in the Women’s Series rankings as a direct result of her breakthrough performance. In the final, Ashton displayed the dominance that has become her hallmark.
She swept Salter 5‑0, a clean‑sheet victory that marked her third Women’s Series title of the 2026 season and underscored her status as a consistent threat on the circuit. The win also reinforced her position as the second‑ranked player behind the series leader, Beau Greaves, who was absent from the Saturday programme.
Meanwhile, Event 18 offered a different narrative, as Fallon Sherrock seized the spotlight. After a strong showing in the early rounds—dropping only one leg in victories over Hollie McKain and Julie Whitehouse—Sherrock faced Jody Hancock in the quarter‑finals. She posted an impressive three‑dart average of 93, comfortably securing a 5‑2 win.
The semi‑final saw her overcome Leanne Topper with a similarly decisive scoreline, propelling her into the last eight. Sherrock’s momentum did not falter as she met Aoife McCormack in the quarter‑finals, delivering a flawless 5‑0 performance.
The semi‑final proved more competitive, with Sherrock battling Gemma Hayter to a 5‑3 victory, earning her fourth final appearance of the year. The final itself was a rematch of the July Women’s World Matchplay semi‑final, pitting Sherrock against Ashton once again. This time, Sherrock turned the tables, delivering a commanding 5‑0 shutout that secured her first Women’s Series title of the season and her first on the circuit in more than 16 months.
Sherrock’s triumph was notable not only for the scoreline but also for the manner in which she achieved it. She surrendered just one leg across her entire run in Event 18, a testament to her precision and mental resilience.
Her victory also elevated her to third place in the Women’s Series rankings, positioning her directly behind Ashton and maintaining a comfortable gap to the series leader. Beau Greaves, who did not compete on Saturday, remains atop the Women’s Series leaderboard.
The top three finishers—Greaves, Ashton, and Sherrock—will automatically qualify for the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, while the series champion will also earn a spot in the 2026 Mr. Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. The detailed results from both 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 and growing competitiveness of women’s darts. Players like Salter are breaking new ground, achieving personal bests and climbing the rankings, while veterans such as Ashton continue to demonstrate why they remain at the pinnacle of the sport.
Sherrock’s resurgence after a lengthy title drought adds another compelling storyline, suggesting that the 2026 season could see several shifts in dominance as the year progresses. Fans can catch future darts action on Sky Sports, stream matches via NOW for a contract‑free experience, and stay updated with the latest highlights, podcasts, and analyses.
The upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix will feature world number one Luke Littler defending his title, offering more high‑octane darts for enthusiasts worldwide. Overall, Saturday’s double‑header at Mattioli Arena not only delivered thrilling finals and impressive individual performances but also set the stage for an exciting climax to the Women’s Series, with the top three players poised to compete on the world stage later in the season.