Mikuru Suzuki: Female darts star narrowly misses out on historic win

Mikuru Suzuki fell agonisingly short of making history after losing 3-2 to James Richardson in the PDC World Championship.

The 37-year-old Japanese darts player would have become the first woman to win a match in the competition’s history, but lost on the final leg.

Having been just one leg from defeat in the early exchanges - the reigning women’s world champion made only two of the first 15 doubles - Suzuki recovered by winning five legs in succession.

But on the final leg, with victory within touching distance, she fell to defeat.

Speaking through an interpreter Suzuki, who claimed her first BDO women's crown last year, said: "The crowd cheering me made me very happy, I will be back next year."

England’s Fallon Sherrock, the other female in the championships, faces Ted Evetts on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Daniela Bata-Bogdanov became the first female stage official in the tournament’s history.

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