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 focused on her gender, reducing her achievement to 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 achieving a remarkable triumph over the dominant Littler.

Yet, the emphasis on her gender raises questions about its impact on her long-term prospects in the sport. According to Laura Turner, a 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 exploits 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. Before Greaves, Anastasia Dobromyslova made history in 2009 by becoming the first woman to beat a male professional on TV in the Grand Slam of Darts.

Turner noted that the narrative around women's darts has shifted, from 'wow, it's a woman playing darts against the men' to 'it's just a dart player playing against another dart player.' Greaves has spoken about her initial reluctance to 'play the lads' in the PDC World Championship, but after earning her PDC ProTour card and becoming the first woman to hit a nine-darter on the tour, she now believes she belongs on the stage competing with the best. The 'Battle of the Sexes' phrase has been revived in recent months, particularly with Aryna Sabalenka's tennis exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. However, in darts, women are competing on a level playing field, and Turner wants fans to appreciate this aspect of the sport.

'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.' Turner also credits female players who have managed to cope with the pressure of being in the spotlight, including dealing with dartitis, a psychological condition that can impact a player's performance. Greaves has spoken openly about her struggles with dartitis and has learned to remain grounded with the support of her family network.

As the sport continues to evolve, it's essential to focus on the quality of play and the achievements of players like Greaves, rather than their gender.