Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock are set to battle for the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title this Sunday, while defending champion Lisa Ashton looks to retain her crown in Blackpool. The event will feature the eight highest‑ranked players from the PDC Women’s Series, all converging on the historic Winter Gardens.
The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, and the winner will walk away with a £15,000 prize purse. Greaves enters the competition as the clear favorite, having already secured two Matchplay titles in the past four years.
Her breakthrough came earlier this year when she became the first woman to capture a PDC ranking event, triumphing at Players Championship 11 in April. That historic victory cemented her status as a trailblazer and raised expectations for another dominant performance in Blackpool.
"Winning a ProTour event so early in my career was a huge surprise to me," Greaves admitted in a recent interview. "I knew I could compete at a high level, but the standard on the tour is extraordinary. I expected I’d need more time to settle in, yet here I am playing against the very players I grew up watching. I love darts, I love competing, and being back at this tournament feels like a fantastic bonus.
This event is something we all look forward to; it’s a boost for the women’s game, and I’m thrilled to be back." In the quarter‑finals, Greaves will face Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen. Sherrock, the 2022 champion who narrowly missed eleven match darts in last year’s final‑leg defeat to Ashton, opens her campaign against veteran Deta Hedman.
Both players have expressed a fierce desire to reclaim the title. Sherrock reflected on her 2022 triumph, saying, "Winning that title was one of the biggest moments of my career in the women’s game.
Blackpool holds a special place in my heart, so returning to the Women’s World Matchplay is a huge honour. I’m determined to win it back this year, especially after missing match darts in the previous final. I’m absolutely hungry for the victory, but I know it won’t be easy.
Deta is a world‑class opponent, and you have to bring your A‑game every time you face her." Meanwhile, Lisa Ashton, the four‑time Lakeside Women’s champion, aims to become the first player to secure back‑to‑back Women’s World Matchplay titles. Ashton will start her defence against Welsh No 1 Rhian O’Sullivan. "I was over the moon when I lifted the trophy last year," Ashton said. "Playing in Blackpool has always been a dream, and winning in my hometown made it even more special.
This title is a PDC accolade I’ve long chased, and finally achieving it feels incredible." The tournament format follows a best‑of‑nine‑legs structure for the quarter‑finals and semi‑finals, culminating in a best‑of‑eleven‑legs final. The prize distribution is as follows: the champion receives £15,000, the runner‑up £8,000, semi‑finalists £4,500 each, and quarter‑finalists £2,000 each, totalling £40,000 in prize money. Schedule: - Quarter‑Finals (from 13:00): Beau Greaves vs Kirsi Viinikainen, Gemma Hayter vs Vicky Pruim, Lisa Ashton vs Rhian O’Sullivan, Fallon Sherrock vs Deta Hedman. - Semi‑Finals: Winners of Greaves/Viinikainen vs Hayter/Pruim and Ashton/O’Sullivan vs Sherrock/Hedman.
- Final: Best of 11 legs to determine the champion. Fans can follow live coverage on Sky Sports Action starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with streaming options available through NOW for those without a traditional TV contract.
The event promises high‑octane darts, showcasing the growing depth and talent within the women’s circuit. As the competition unfolds, all eyes will be on Greaves, Sherrock, and Ashton to see who can claim the coveted trophy and add another milestone to their impressive careers.