Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock are set to battle for the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title on Sunday, while Lisa Ashton returns to defend her championship at the iconic Blackpool venue. The competition will feature the eight highest‑ranked players from the PDC Women’s Series, all converging at the Winter Gardens for a live broadcast on Sky Sports Action beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The victor will walk away with a £15,000 first‑place prize, underscoring the growing prestige and financial incentive of women’s darts.
Greaves arrives as the clear favourite, having already secured two Matchplay crowns in the past four years. Her breakthrough came earlier this year when she became the first woman to capture a PDC ranking title, triumphing at Players Championship 11 in April.
That historic win signalled a new era for the sport, demonstrating that female competitors can thrive on the professional circuit. Greaves, who claimed the Women’s Matchplay in both 2023 and 2024, suffered an unexpected semi‑final defeat to Ashton in the previous edition, adding extra motivation to reclaim the trophy. In a candid interview, Greaves reflected on her rapid ascent: “Winning a ProTour event so early in my career was a huge shock to me.
I knew I could compete at a high level, but the overall standard on tour is astonishing. I expected I would need more time to settle in, yet here I am, facing the players I grew up watching.
I love darts, I love competing, and every opportunity feels like a bonus. This tournament is one we all look forward to; it’s fantastic for the women’s game, and I’m thrilled to be back.” Greaves’ quarter‑final opponent will be Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen, a steady competitor who has earned her place among the top eight.
Meanwhile, 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, who narrowly missed eleven match darts in last year’s final‑leg loss to Ashton, will open her campaign against veteran Deta Hedman. Sherrock, a trailblazer for women in darts, expressed her hunger: “Winning this title in 2022 remains one of my biggest achievements. Blackpool is a favourite stop for me, and I’m eager to reclaim the crown after the heartbreak of missing match darts last year.
I’m really hungry to win it, but I know it will be a tough road—Deta is a quality player and you always have to bring your A‑game against her.” Lisa Ashton, the defending champion, also has a chance to join Greaves as the only player to win consecutive Women’s World Matchplay titles. Ashton, a four‑time Lakeside Women’s champion, will begin her defence against Wales’ No 1, Rhian O’Sullivan. Ashton praised her 2024 victory: “I was absolutely over the moon to win the title last year. Playing in Blackpool has always been a dream, and winning it in my hometown was simply brilliant.
It’s one of my biggest achievements—a PDC title I always wanted, and I finally secured it.” 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 fund totals £40,000, with £15,000 for the champion, £8,000 for the runner‑up, £4,500 for each semi‑finalist, and £2,000 for quarter‑finalists. The stakes are high, and the competition promises intense, high‑quality darts. Beyond the headline matchups, the event showcases the rapid development of women’s darts.
Since the PDC introduced a dedicated women’s series, the depth of talent has expanded dramatically. Players such as Gemma Hayter, Vicky Pruim, and emerging stars from across Europe now regularly compete at the same level as the sport’s established male counterparts. The increased exposure on mainstream channels like Sky Sports Action, coupled with streaming options via NOW, has helped bring the sport to a broader audience, encouraging more participation at grassroots levels.
The Women’s World Matchplay also serves as a platform for personal stories and rivalries. Greaves’ quest to add a third title in four years mirrors her earlier historic breakthrough, while Sherrock’s determination to bounce back after a painful missed‑dart finish highlights the mental resilience required in darts. Ashton’s hometown triumph adds a sentimental layer, illustrating how personal connections to venues can fuel performance.
Fans can follow live coverage on Sky Sports Action starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with additional highlights and analysis available through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel and the NOW streaming service. The tournament’s schedule includes quarter‑finals at 13:00, followed by semi‑finals and the championship match later in the afternoon. The event not only crowns a champion but also reinforces the growing legitimacy and excitement of women’s professional darts, setting the stage for future generations to aspire to the same heights.
As the darts community tunes in, the question on everyone’s mind remains: who will lift the Women’s World Matchplay trophy this year? Whether it’s Greaves cementing her dominance, Sherrock reclaiming her 2022 glory, or Ashton defending her title on home soil, the tournament promises drama, skill, and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.