Dave Chisnall has made it painfully clear that he’s not losing a wink of sleep over drawing Fallon Sherrock in the opening round of the 2026 World Darts Championship. In fact, the 45-year-old insists he’s heading to Ally Pally “fancying his chances,” brushing aside the hype surrounding Sherrock and challenging the darting world to doubt him. With one of the most talked-about first-round clashes on the schedule, Chisnall isn’t shying away from the noise — he’s embracing it and, frankly, throwing some back.
Chisnall, who has built a reputation for producing some of his best work on the Alexandra Palace stage, knows full well that Sherrock, the so-called “Queen of the Palace,” will once again soak up the adoration of the crowd. But rather than playing the diplomat, he’s leaning into the tension. To him, the cheers for Sherrock mean nothing if they’re not backed up on the scoreboard. His preparations, his form, his experience — he claims all of it points in one direction: him moving on and Sherrock heading home early.
In his column for Kwiff, Chisnall spelled out his mentality with little hesitation. “Fallon’s a very good player, and she’s had another strong season,” he admitted, before pivoting quickly. “But the bookmakers have me as favourite, and frankly, I fancy my chances of going through.” He stressed that he meant “no disrespect,” but the tone suggested he believes the stats, the crowd, and the storylines won’t save Sherrock if he turns up playing the way he knows he can. “I’ve got a strong record on that stage,” he added. “And I’ll back myself every time.”
Sherrock, of course, became a global sensation in 2020 when she shattered history as the first woman to win a match on the PDC World Championship stage. Since then, she has drawn enormous attention and support everywhere she goes — something Chisnall not only expects, but is openly bracing himself for. “I’m preparing for a hostile reaction,” he admitted. “The ladies always get a loud reception, and I remember the atmosphere when Fallon beat Mensur at Ally Pally. The crowd absolutely loved it. They always want to see the women topple the men.”
That sentiment, while wrapped in politeness, landed like a challenge: Chisnall seems fully aware he’s the villain in the eyes of large parts of the Ally Pally crowd — and he doesn’t care. Instead, he’s ready to walk into that noise and shove the storyline off its axis.
He called the draw “interesting,” nodding to the other big clashes he’ll be watching as a fan of the sport. But make no mistake — his focus is on himself and the job in front of him. With three weeks to go until the tournament, Chisnall has been logging heavy travel miles, using exhibition events as both warm-ups and testing grounds. If the crowd wants drama, he seems ready to give it to them.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Before London, I’ll keep busy with exhibitions. I’m in Swansea tonight, and I’ll be floating around different venues across Christmas, so keep your eyes open.” It was the sort of phrasing that suggested he’s not hiding, not taking it easy, and not slipping quietly into the tournament the way some players like to. He’s out there sharpening the edges — and making sure people see him do it.
Chisnall has only just returned from a string of Irish exhibitions and didn’t hold back in praising the fans who welcomed him there. “I’ve just come back from four days across the Irish Sea, and the reaction from my Irish supporters is always unbelievable,” he said. “It’s incredibly humbling to get that kind of reception everywhere I go. I never take that for granted.”
And then came the kicker: he fully intends to give those fans “something bigger to shout about” next month. In other words, he plans to march deeper into the Worlds — even if he has to silence the loudest Ally Pally crowd Sherrock has ever had behind her.
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