Beau Greaves 'can't win' as darts superstar weighs up huge career decision
Beau Greaves faces a can't-win decision as she gears up to defend her Women's World Matchplay title. The 21-year-old, who previously competed in the 2022/23 PDC World Championship, has chosen to participate in the WDF Women's World Championship in recent years.
Due to stringent PDC regulations, she is unable to compete in both tournaments, forcing her to make a tough choice. However, with her continued dominance in the women's game, boasting three WDF world titles and two PDC World Matchplay crowns in her trophy collection, it seems increasingly likely that she will return to Alexandra Palace this year.
Lorraine Winstanley, who will also be part of the Women's Matchplay field on Sunday, supports this move, believing it is time for the Doncaster thrower to challenge herself on the sport's grandest stage once more.
"It's a really difficult decision for her and she'll upset people whatever she chooses," said Winstanley. "At the end of the day, the decision is hers. Personally, I feel like she should be looking to do the PDC this time.
"If she was on the verge of winning nine [women's] World Championships and challenging Trina [Gulliver] for the record [of 10], it might be different. But considering where she is in her career, I think it's time for her to make that change. Ultimately, it's up to her and she's got to do what's best for her."
Winstanley believes that Greaves' exceptional talent is elevating the entire standard of women's darts. She added: "She's just on a whole different level to all the other women.
"Across the board, the bar has been raised. Everybody is playing better darts because everybody wants a piece of the action. You've got to play better. And she's lovely. She's such a chilled person. For such a young girl, she's got such a lot of experience. She's really interesting to talk to."
Greaves will begin her title defence at the Women's World Matchplay against Finnish newcomer Kirsi Viinikainen when the fourth edition of the £25,000 tournament takes place at the Winter Gardens on Sunday.
Eight players have qualified through a 12-month Order of Merit based on PDC Women's Series prize money from 28 events since last July, with Greaves returning to Blackpool as top seed.
Winstanley will take on second seed Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who will be making her third straight Winter Gardens bow. Meanwhile, Fallon Sherrock and Laura Ashton will both extend their perfect attendance records in Blackpool, with 2024 finalist Sherrock drawn against debutant Gemma Hayter.
The remaining quarter-final will pit four-time BDO women's world champion Ashton against Ireland's Robyn Byrne.The Women's Matchplay victor will secure a spot at November's Grand Slam of Darts and the 2025/26 World Darts Championship, alongside a top prize of £10,000.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler sets sights on Luke Humphries' spot after World Matchplay triumph
Luke Littler is the youngest triple crown champion in darts after beating James Wade in the World Matchplay final and now wants to end the year as the sport's undisputed No 1 Luke Littler has his eye on ending the year as No.1 in the charts and defending his darts world title at Alexandra Palace as top dog by every measurement. After another spellbinding display to win the World Matchplay crown, despite giving James Wade a five-leg head start in the final, Luke the Nuke is on course to top the rankings in the Professional Darts Corporation order of merit before the end of 2025. At 18, Littler is by far the youngest player to win the triple crown - World Championship, Premier League and World Matchplay - and he admits current world No.1 Luke Humphries' perch is now within his sights. But Littler is already the de facto No.1 in all but name. He is the teenage whirlwind responsible for an explosion in prize money, TV rankings, replica shirt and darts sales and participation at grass roots level. His Nukeship is the man to beat at every tournament - and at the Winter Gardens he gave the punters value for money, scrapping through 13-11 against Jermaine Wattimena, 16-14 against Andrew Gilding and 17-14 against Josh Rock before his 18-13 comeback win saw off Wade. Littler nodded: 'I've looked at the rankings provisionally. I'm No.1 for the Worlds if Luke doesn't defend all that prize money - and obviously I don't want him to. 'But we'll just have to find out and try to add more prize money to my ranking. For now, I'm the youngest winner of another major title. At the start of my career I wanted to win one of every major - there's not that many to go now. 'It was in the back of my mind that I hadn't won a trophy for a while every tournament I went into and didn't win, whether that was a European Tour or a ProTour event. 'But now I've picked up another one it's a good feeling and hopefully there will be a few more towards the back of the year. I want to win every major once and then just build on it - get multiple of everything, triple of everything. Once I win one of everything, I won't pack it in.' Among Littler's greatest hits at Blackpool was his tournament record 64 maximum 180s, blowing Adrian Lewis's previous apex of 56 out of the water. He said: 'I played a lot of legs throughout the Matchplay so it's no surprise that I've broken the 180 record.' Littler will take a week off before heading to Australia for the World Series early next month. The next major where he could make a dent in Humphries' lead at the rankings summit is the World Grand Prix in Leicester from October 6-12. He will begin his defence of the world title at Ally Pally, chasing the first £1 million winner's jackpot in darts, on December 11. PDC ORDER OF MERIT: CURRENT RANKINGS Luke Humphries £1,797,750 Luke Littler £1,500,500 Michael van Gerwen £739,750 Stephen Bunting £620,500 James Wade £611,750 Gerwyn Price £533,000 Chis Dobey £520,500 Jonny Clayton £513,750 Rob Cross £505,500 Damon Heta £486,250
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Warrington's Luke Littler lifts trophy after exciting World Matchplay darts final
Warrington's Luke Littler has won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC triple crown. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the triple crown."
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Darts power couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies SPLIT after four years together
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DARTS' golden couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies have split up after four years. The shock break-up was revealed by former tour player Vincent van der Voort on his podcast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies have split Credit: PA 6 Sherrock lost in the Women's World Matchplay final on Sunday Credit: Getty 6 Menzies wasn't in the crowd to support Sherrock Credit: Getty The tungsten-throwing lovebirds met in an online darts league and fell in love over their love for KFC, but now they have brought their time together to an end. During the latest episode of the podcast Darts Draait Door, presenter Damian Vlottes let slip that Van de Voort knew their relationship had come to a close. Vlottes said: "They broke up — you told me.' To which Van de Voort replied: "True, yes. But what else do you want me to say about it? READ MORE ON DARTS LUKE AT THAT Littler is youngest EVER triple crown winner after winning World Matchplay "I don't work for a gossip magazine. I don't know the exact reason either. She told me and I didn't ask why.' SunSport has approached both Sherrock and Menzies' camps for comment. The news comes after Sherrock made her return to television on Sunday at the Women's World Matchplay. Menzies was nowhere to be seen in the crowd as 'The Queen of the Palace' took to the stage at Winter Gardens. 6 Former tour player Vincent van der Voort broke the news of their split Credit: Getty 6 Sherrock regularly watched Menzies' games from the crowd Credit: PA CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The Scot is normally watching on for all of Sherrock's matches but wasn't present for her return despite being in Blackpool himself for the Men's World Matchplay earlier in week. Sherrock reached the final, ultimately losing to Lisa Ashton, 54, after a string of eight missed darts at double. Darts star Cameron Menzies has nightmare as he busts with incredible 180 and is left with head in hands Meanwhile Menzies lost 10-2 to Danny Noppert in round one of the men's matchplay, exiting with the worst average (81.35) of the competition after busting with a 180. Menzies and Sherrock used to practice together at home, with Menzies admitting Sherrock would often get the better of him. He previously told Sky Sports: "We enjoy our practice together and she is a very class player. "She has done well for darts in general and is banging in 90 averages and 100 averages, the same as a lot of women. "I'm quite lucky I've got a very good partner who can play darts. "It's good in the house unless she beats me and I've got to make the food. I don't like it when she beats me. "I will support her left, right and centre. I am her biggest fan. "I might be a bit strict, but I know how good she is. I've known her for a very long time and I know she is very, very good. "She's taken me places I would never have experienced because of darts, so I'm a very lucky person." 6 The couple were together for four years Credit: Instagram @fsherrock The pair had met while playing in an online darts league, competing in a doubles team. Following their initial online encounter, Menzies revealed that "It started off with a KFC''. He said: 'I had known Fallon for years in darts and played doubles with her years ago. ''We met in an online league in Southampton. ''The rest is history as they say. It started off with a KFC.'' Former plumber Menzies, who fixed a sink on the day of his world championship appearance, was also a brilliant father figure to Fallon's son Rory from another relationship. Sherrock was dubbed the 'Queen of the Palace' after becoming first woman to win at the World Championship back in 2019, ultimately reaching the third round. The 31-year-old announced last month that she is taking a year-long break from darts after battling with health issues. She said: "I just need to sort myself out. "I need to get myself well again and then once I do, the sky is the limit because I know I can do it and I know how many hours I've got to put in, what standard I've got to play. So I can do it, I just need the energy for it first."
