New sensation Fallon Sherrock is in the line-up for this weekend’s PokerStars-sponsored Isle of Man International Darts Festival.

The 25-year-old from Milton Keynes is likely to be a box-office star at the festival following her rise to sporting fame in recent months.

The Villa Marina will welcome hundreds of darts players and enthusiasts from all over Europe to take part in the 35th IoM Festival when it fires into life on Thursday.

Players will compete for both ranking points and prize money in pairs, youth and men’s and women’s singles competitions.

Sherrock became the first female to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championships in December. She then made history by going on to beat 11th seed Mensur Suljovic in the second round.

The question is, can she take her form from London’s Alexander Palace to the Villa Marina this week?

On the men’s side of the festival, BDO World Championship runner-up Jim Williams is the likely favourite to take the open singles title.

Another first for the island festival is that on top of the BDO-ranking points it has had for many years, the PokerStars Open will now also have World Darts Federation ranking points awarded.

As well as the main competitions, local darters will also be competing to become the furthest player in the men’s and women’s open singles tournaments.

The finals take place on Sunday from approximately 2pm in the Royal Hall. They will have all the ingredients of a televised event including player walk-on music and lighting, big screens, electronic scoring, free 180 placards, live-streaming , a professional MC as well as top-class men’s and women’s darts. Admission is free of charge.

l For fuller details see the Isle of Man Darts Festival Facebook page or www.isleofmandartsfestival.com