Beau Greaves has long been a dominant force in women’s darts, and she has now etched her name into the sport’s history books with a performance she describes as her "best three darts ever." The 22‑year‑old from Doncaster achieved a groundbreaking milestone on the PDC Pro Tour by becoming the first female competitor to claim a PDC ranking title. Her victory came after a nail‑biting 8‑7 win over Michael Smith in the final of Players Championship 11, held on a Monday in Milton Keynes.
Greaves’ path to the trophy was nothing short of spectacular. She recorded seven consecutive wins throughout the tournament, culminating in a dramatic deciding‑leg finish where she hit a 142 checkout against the crowd‑pleasing Michael Smith, affectionately known as “Bully Boy.” That decisive checkout secured a historic moment for both Greaves and the sport, demonstrating that women can compete at the highest level of professional darts. The champion’s run was peppered with victories over three former world champions. After dispatching Rob Cross and Gary Anderson in earlier rounds, Greaves faced Smith in the final, overcoming each of these legends in succession.
The achievement was especially poignant for Greaves, who is a two‑time Women’s World Matchplay champion and has been steadily climbing the ranks of the PDC circuit. When asked to reflect on the win, Greaves admitted the experience still felt surreal. She recounted the final throw that clinched the title – a treble 20, treble 20, double 11 – describing it as “three of the most incredible darts I have ever thrown.” She told Sky Sports, “It is absolutely amazing.
I am still in a bit of shock now but it is something I can look back on and remember forever. I am chuffed and it will take me a while to get over it.” Greaves also described her emotions on the morning after the victory. “When I woke up that day I just felt really chilled and really comfortable.
I was just happy and enjoying the games I was playing,” she said. She emphasized that the deeper she went into the tournament, the tougher the competition became, making the triumph over three world champions even more special. “The finish at the end was probably the best three darts I have ever thrown,” she added, noting that sometimes moments of greatness simply happen, and that day was hers.
Despite the magnitude of her achievement, Greaves kept her celebrations low‑key. When offered a night out at a pub, she politely declined, opting instead for a quiet evening back at her hotel.
“I went back to the hotel, had a slice of pizza and a hot chocolate, and then went to bed,” she explained. She also called her family to share the news, saying that hearing their support was “good enough for me.” Greaves’ recent success is part of a broader pattern of rapid adaptation to life as a PDC Tour Card holder. The World Youth Championship runner‑up is now within £4,000 of the provisional qualification spots for October’s World Grand Prix, a tournament broadcast live on Sky Sports.
In addition, she has recorded two nine‑dart finishes in 2026, the latest of which came on the Development Tour on a Friday. She attributes her progress to a combination of hard work and a balanced mindset. “The Pro Tour is the level that I have wanted to be at for a while and I seem to be performing well and getting good results,” Greaves said. “To hit my first nine‑darter there as well was really special.
I am just really happy at the moment as well. I am really enjoying life.” She emphasized that she feels “extremely lucky to play darts for a living” and tries to avoid excessive pressure, focusing instead on enjoying her youth and staying stress‑free. As a trailblazer in a traditionally male‑dominated sport, Greaves acknowledges the added pressure of representing women in darts.
Yet she remains focused on her own game and on inspiring the next generation of female players. “There is more pressure in a way but I have always tried to concentrate on myself,” she explained. “Fallon (Sherrock) had her time and I have come along and I am trying to do that as well.
I am trying to fly the flag for young girls out there. I probably feel more pressure that way. I just want to be successful and give young girls someone to look up to.” When asked about future ambitions, particularly regarding the Premier League, Greaves was realistic yet hopeful.
“I would probably need to win the World Darts Championship to get into the Premier League,” she said. “I never thought I would win my first ranking title now, if ever, so I am just going to enjoy the moment, get back to practicing, and work hard. If I keep going the way I am, you never know where I might end up.” Greaves’ story is a testament to perseverance, skill, and the growing influence of women in professional darts. Her historic win not only shattered a glass ceiling but also provided a vivid example for aspiring young players that success is achievable regardless of gender.
As the darts community looks ahead, all eyes will be on Greaves to see how far her talent and determination can take her, whether that means more ranking titles, additional nine‑dart finishes, or perhaps one day a spot in the Premier League. For fans eager to follow the sport, the Premier League Darts schedule continues with Luke Humphries defending his title, and matches are streamed every Thursday until May on Sky Sports.
Viewers can also catch the latest darts highlights, podcasts, and live streams through platforms such as NOW, ensuring that the excitement generated by players like Beau Greaves reaches a global audience.