Beau Greaves makes history with PDC title win
Beau Greaves has written her name into the history books this evening, becoming the first woman ever to claim a PDC ranking title, reports BritPanorama.
The 22-year-old from Doncaster triumphed 8-7 against Michael Smith in a thrilling Players Championship 11 final at Milton Keynes. It all came down to the final leg, with Greaves needing 142 while Smith sat on just 20. She nailed it brilliantly, finishing on double 11 to spark incredible scenes in the arena.
Greaves’ achievement is monumental not only for her career but for women’s darts as a whole. In the rounds leading to the final, she dispatched three former world champions, beginning with 2018 World Champion Rob Cross, whom she edged out 6-5 despite Cross averaging 105.96. Greaves then faced two-time champion Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, where she delivered a stunning performance, winning 7-1 with an average of 105.56.
In the final, both players produced averages in the high 90s during a tense match that went the full distance. Greaves had initially pulled ahead 6-3, aided by a maximum 170 checkout that electrified the crowd, before concluding the match with her historic victory.
Greaves’ journey to this moment was marked by steady performances, beginning with victories against Aden Kirk, Thomas Lovely, and Jeffrey Sparidaans. Her path also included a last-16 triumph over Karel Sedlacek, sending her into a third consecutive Players Championship quarter-final and ultimately to her historic win.
In her post-match interview, Greaves expressed her disbelief at her achievement: “I’ve had a great year, but I never thought I’d win one of these! I’m so happy I can’t even describe the way I feel…it’s unbelievable and I feel so proud of myself.” This victory adds to her remarkable accolades, including being the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour.
As she stands atop this new milestone, the effect of her victory resonates far beyond personal success, shining a light on the evolving landscape of darts and the role of women within the sport.
