Beau Greaves' remarkable victory over world No 1 Luke Littler at the PDC World Youth Championships last October should have catapulted her to stardom. However, many media outlets reduced her achievement to her gender, with headlines like 'Littler beaten by a woman' and 'Littler suffers shock defeat in Battle of the Sexes'.
Greaves' win was a defining moment, marking her as the first woman to reach the World Youth Final and securing a remarkable triumph over Littler. Nevertheless, the focus on her gender may have a detrimental effect on her long-term prospects in the sport. According to Laura Turner, Sky Sports pundit and pro player, 'It's a double-edged sword... we want the publicity, we want the role models, we want people to be visible, but be visible for the right reasons - and that's just the quality of play.' Turner reflected on the trailblazing achievements of players like Lisa Ashton, the first woman to win a tour card at Q-School, and Fallon Sherrock, the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Anastasia Dobromyslova, who beat a male professional on TV in the Grand Slam of Darts in 2009, also paved the way for Greaves. Before Greaves, the narrative surrounding women in darts often centered on their gender. However, as Turner noted, 'the narrative started to change... it's just a dart player playing against another dart player.' Greaves' confidence has grown significantly since her early days, and she now believes she belongs on the stage competing with the best.
She has spoken about helping other women follow her lead, stating, 'It's getting the exposure for the ladies to be able to go and play the bigger players and bigger names on a regular basis.' The 'Battle of the Sexes' phrase has gained renewed attention in recent months, particularly with Aryna Sabalenka's tennis exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. While tennis has a history of pitting men against women, the concept is often viewed as damaging to women's sports. In darts, women compete against men on a level playing field, and Turner wants fans to appreciate this aspect.
'You don't want to shy away from the fact that that person is female because you want the role models for young girls to come through. But you also don't need that to be the only thing that people talk about.' Female players like Greaves, Ashton, and Sherrock have managed to cope with the pressure of being in the spotlight, including dealing with dartitis, a psychological condition that can impact performance. Turner credited these players for their ability to remain grounded and focused, despite the intense media attention.
As the sport continues to evolve, it's essential to recognize the achievements of female players like Greaves, who are redefining the narrative and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in darts.