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 cementing their places as the second and third highest‑ranked players on the circuit. The action unfolded at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, where the venue hosted a packed double‑header that highlighted the depth of talent in the women’s game. Event 17 began with Lisa Ashton, the seasoned Lancaster‑based darts artisan, launching into an impressive run.
She breezed through the opening round with three consecutive whitewash victories, never allowing an opponent to claim a single leg. In the last‑16 stage she faced Lauren Hall, dropping only one leg before moving into the quarter‑finals. Ashton then met Grace Ferridge, dispatching her 5‑1 in a match that showcased her clinical finishing and steady scoring.
The semi‑final proved a sterner test as Ashton encountered Gemma Hayter; the two battled fiercely and the match was decided on the final leg, with Ashton edging out a narrow 5‑4 win to secure her place in the final. The final pitted Ashton against Lauryn Salter, the 2025 Women’s World Matchplay champion. Salter, who had already impressed by reaching the semi‑finals of Event 12 earlier in the year, entered the match with confidence after a strong quarter‑final win over Emma Pearce and a solid semi‑final triumph over Jade Gofford.
However, Ashton was in imperious form, delivering a flawless 5‑0 victory that not only earned her a third Women’s Series title of the 2026 season but also propelled Salter up to 16th in the rankings, marking her first ever final appearance in the series. While Ashton celebrated her triumph, the spotlight also turned to the broader implications for the season’s rankings. Beau Greaves, who was not present on the Saturday programme, remained firmly atop the Women’s Series leaderboard. Ashton and Sherrock, by virtue of their double‑header success, solidified their positions as the second and third‑ranked players respectively.
The top three finishers in the final PDC Women’s Series standings will earn coveted spots at the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, with the series leader also gaining entry to the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. Turning to Event 18, the narrative shifted to Fallon Sherrock, the 32‑year‑old former Women’s World Matchplay champion. Sherrock opened her campaign by conceding just a single leg in victories over Hollie McKain and Julie Whitehouse, then produced a high‑scoring 93‑average performance to defeat Jody Hancock 5‑2. She continued her march by overcoming Leanne Topper and then delivering a dominant 5‑0 dismantling of Aoife McCormack.
In the quarter‑finals she faced Gemma Hayter, a familiar opponent, and won 5‑3 to book her place in the semi‑finals. The semi‑final saw Sherrock meet Karolina Ratajska, a formidable competitor who had earlier bested Tracey Dean 5‑2. Sherrock kept her composure, cruising to a 5‑3 victory and setting up a rematch of the July Women’s World Matchplay semi‑final against Lisa Ashton.
In the final, Sherrock replicated the July result, delivering a clean 5‑0 sweep over Ashton. This victory marked Sherrock's first Women’s Series title in more than 16 months and underscored her resurgence on the circuit.
Both events were accompanied by a range of ancillary content for fans: video streams optimized for Chrome browsers, highlights available on Sky Sports, and a dedicated darts podcast titled "Love the Darts." Viewers were also reminded of the ongoing partnership with NOW, offering contract‑free streaming of live darts and other top‑tier sports. The outcomes of these two tournaments have broader ramifications for the upcoming major championships. With Greaves maintaining her lead, Ashton and Sherrock are now within striking distance of the top spot, intensifying the competition for the limited qualification places.
Their performances also provide valuable momentum heading into the latter half of the season, where each event carries significant ranking points. In summary, Saturday's double‑header at the Mattioli Arena delivered a compelling showcase of skill, determination, and strategic play. Lisa Ashton reaffirmed her status as a veteran powerhouse with a decisive 5‑0 final win, while Fallon Sherrock announced a triumphant return by claiming her first series title of the year in equally dominant fashion. As the Women’s Series progresses, the race for the top three positions—and the accompanying World Championship berths—remains wide open, promising further excitement for fans and players alike.