Lisa Ashton has become the first woman to win a PDC Tour card at the qualifying school in Wigan. The 49-year-old, who is the women’s world No 1, claimed the 12th and final spot via the Order of Merit. Ashton’s success means she has won the opportunity to compete on the PDC Tour for the next two years.

Delusions, chaos and a shot at a new life at Q-School, darts’ dream factory | Jonathan Liew Read more

Ashton is a four-times women’s world champion and competed at the PDC World Championship in 2019, only to suffer a first-round defeat to Jan Dekker. She will now have the opportunity to compete on the full PDC circuit, having triumphed on the final day of qualifying school.

Fallon Sherrock, who made history by becoming the first women to win a match at the PDC World Championship before Christmas, failed to win a tour card. Sherrock has already been awarded a “challenger” place to appear on the second night of the Premier League in Nottingham on 13 February.

Sherrock wrote on Twitter: “Congrats to Lisa Ashton on winning a PDC Tour Card today, awesome #girlsmakingwaves”.

Ashton tweeted: “Can’t quite believe it but I’ve only gone and won a PDC Tour Card! Thank you to everyone for your best wishes and support, and especially to my sponsors. Looking forward to the next two years now. #QSchool #HereComeTheGirls”.