Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock are set to battle for the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title on Sunday, while defending champion Lisa Ashton also returns to the Blackpool stage. The event will feature the eight highest‑ranked players from the PDC Women’s Series, all converging at the historic Winter Gardens. The matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 1 p.m., with the champion earning a £15,000 prize fund.
Greaves arrives as the clear favorite to add a third trophy to her collection in the past four years. She made history earlier this year by becoming the first woman to capture a PDC ranking title at Players Championship 11 in April, a breakthrough that has raised expectations for her performance in Blackpool. "Winning a ProTour event so early in my career was a huge surprise for me," Greaves admitted, recalling her triumphs in the 2023 and 2024 Women’s Matchplay editions before suffering a semi‑final upset to Ashton in the previous year’s tournament. She added, "I know I have the skill, but the standard on the professional circuit is incredibly high, so I expected it would take me a while to settle in.
It’s a privilege to compete against the players I grew up watching. I love darts, I love competing, and every match feels like a bonus. This tournament is something we all look forward to; it’s fantastic for the women’s game, and I’m thrilled to be back." In the quarter‑finals, Greaves will face Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen. Meanwhile, 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, who missed eleven match darts in last year’s final‑leg defeat to Ashton, opens her campaign against veteran Deta Hedman.
Sherrock, who famously said that winning the 2022 title was one of her greatest achievements, expressed her determination: "Blackpool is one of my favourite venues, and I’m eager to reclaim the trophy after the heartbreak of last year. I’m really hungry to win it, but the competition will be fierce. Deta is a top‑class opponent, and you have to bring your A‑game every time you face her." Lisa Ashton, the four‑time Lakeside Women’s champion, also has a chance to become the only player to retain the Women’s World Matchplay crown consecutively. She begins her title defence against Welsh No 1 Rhian O’Sullivan.
Ashton reflected on her previous victory: "Winning in Blackpool last year was a dream come true, especially because it was in my hometown. It’s a PDC title I’d always wanted, and finally achieving it was absolutely brilliant. It remains one of my biggest career highlights." 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 allocates £15,000 to the champion, £8,000 to the runner‑up, £4,500 to each semi‑finalist, and £2,000 to each quarter‑finalist, totalling £40,000 in prize money.
Beyond the headline match‑ups, the Women’s World Matchplay serves as a showcase for the growing depth of talent in women’s darts. Players such as Gemma Hayter, Vicky Pruim, and emerging stars from the PDC Women’s Series are all vying for a place on the podium, underscoring the sport’s expanding competitive landscape.
The event also provides a platform for younger players to gain experience on a major stage, which is essential for the continued development of the women’s game. Fans can follow the live coverage on Sky Sports Action starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with additional updates and highlights available through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel, which offers news, videos, analysis, and more.
For those who prefer streaming, the matches are also accessible via NOW, allowing viewers to watch darts alongside other top‑level sports without a traditional contract. The anticipation surrounding the tournament is palpable, as each competitor brings a unique blend of experience, skill, and ambition.
Greaves, with her recent breakthrough on the ProTour, aims to solidify her status as a trailblazer. Sherrock, motivated by last year’s near‑miss, seeks redemption and a return to the winner’s podium. Ashton, looking to make history with back‑to‑back titles, hopes to capitalize on home‑field advantage.
And the rest of the field, from seasoned veterans to rising talents, will strive to upset the odds and claim a share of the lucrative prize fund. As the darts community tunes in, the question on everyone’s mind remains: who will lift the Women’s World Matchplay trophy this year?
The answer will unfold on the oche in Blackpool, with each throw potentially reshaping the narrative of women’s darts for the season ahead.