PDC announce first televised women's tournament

The PDC has announced the introduction of its first televised women's tournament.

The Betfred Women's World Matchplay will see eight players competing at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on 24 July for a £25,000 prize fund and a spot at the 2022 Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts.

The top eight players from the 2022 PDC Women's Series Order of Merit after 12 events will make up the field.

PDC chief executive Matt Porter said: "We have expanded our commitment to women's darts in recent years following the introduction of the PDC Women's Series, and we feel that the time is right to give these players a televised tournament."

Fallon Sherrock, the first woman to win a match against a man at the World Championship and a quarter-finalist at the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts, was relishing potentially taking to the oche in Blackpool.

"This is amazing for the ladies game," she wrote on Twitter. "It would be amazing to play on that stage if I qualify."

This is amazing for the ladies game. It would be amazing to play on that stage if I qualify. @OfficialPDC ❤️❤️ https://t.co/gNGlTAwlPH