England’s Fallon Sherrock has created darts history, becoming the first woman to win a match at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship.
On day five of the event, Sherrock beat compatriot Ted Evetts 3-2 in a first-round clash at London's Alexandra Palace.
Sherrock, 25, is the fifth woman to feature at the world championship, after Canadian Gayl King, Russian Anastasia Dobromyslova, England’s Lisa Ashton and current women’s champion Mikuru Suzuki of Japan.
"I'm speechless, I don't know what to say,” the Milton Keynes hairdresser told Sky Sports UK.
Last year, the PDC decreed that every world championship would feature at least two women.
Female players have always had the same chance as the men, with no boundaries set on qualification, but now at least two of the 96 spots are guaranteed to women, after the introduction of British and world qualifiers.
"I feel really happy, as I've made something for women's darts,” Sherrock added. “I've proved that we can play the men and can beat them, so hopefully this puts us in the right direction.
"I've loved every minute of it and I'm so happy I get to continue it, rather than go out in the first round."
With the backing of the entire crowd, the 25-year-old scored an average of 91.12 and six 180s to book a date with Austrian Mensur Suljović in the next stage.
Sherrock fell 2-1 behind, but brushed off earlier missed doubles to keep her composure and secured her landmark victory in the fourth game of the deciding set, hitting double-18 to send the 'Ally Pally' into raptures.
Earlier in the tournament, world qualifier Suzuki took Englishman James Richardson to a deciding leg, before losing 3-2.
Kiwi Ben Robb makes his debut on Thursday (NZ time), facing Dutchman Ron Meulenkamp in the opening round.
