Beau Greaves Makes History as First Woman to Win PDC Ranking Title
In a groundbreaking moment for the sport, Beau Greaves etched her name in darting history by becoming the first woman to clinch a PDC ranking title. The 22-year-old from England triumphed over former world champion Michael Smith with a thrilling 8-7 victory in the final of the Players Championship 11, held in Milton Keynes.
Greaves sealed her remarkable win with a stunning 142 checkout in the deciding leg, finishing her match with a precise double 11. Along the way, she demonstrated her exceptional skill by scoring a 170 checkout in the ninth leg, culminating in an impressive 80% checkout success rate and an average of 96.49.
Her journey to the final was nothing short of formidable. Greaves showcased her prowess by defeating two former world champions: a closely fought 6-5 match against Rob Cross in the quarter-finals and a commanding 7-1 victory over Gary Anderson in the semi-finals.
This latest achievement adds to the momentum of Greaves’ burgeoning career, following her impressive 114-match winning streak in the PDC Women’s Series and becoming the first woman to achieve a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour.
“I’ve had a great year, but I never thought I’d win one of these, never ever,” Greaves remarked, her voice brimming with joy. “Today I played really well. I’m so happy I can’t even describe the way I feel. I feel so proud of myself.”
Reflecting on her remarkable opponents, she added, “I beat Gary Anderson—I can’t believe it. Even beating Michael—I’m beating players I watched growing up. Hopefully, I can kick on and keep doing it.”
The tournament also saw some surprising exits, including world number two Luke Humphries, who was eliminated in the third round by Max Hopp in a nail-biting 6-5 matchup. Premier League Darts competitors Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock succumbed in the first round.
Notably absent from the tournament was world champion Luke Littler, who has yet to participate in a Players Championship event this year. Prominent figures such as Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, and Nathan Aspinall were also missing from the field.
This year, a total of 34 Players Championship events will take place, culminating in finals set for November 26-30 in Minehead, Somerset, where the 64 best-performing players will compete for the title.
Following her historic win, Greaves now ranks fifth in the Players Championship order of merit, a testament to her rising star in the world of professional darts.
