Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock are set to battle for the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title on Sunday, with defending champion Lisa Ashton also in the mix at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 1 p.m., and the victor will walk away with a £15,000 prize fund.
All eight qualifiers from the PDC Women’s Series rankings will converge on the historic venue, promising a showcase of the very best female talent in darts. Greaves enters the tournament as the clear favourite, having already secured two Matchplay crowns in 2023 and 2024 and becoming the first woman to capture a PDC ranking title at Players Championship 11 earlier this year.
Her rapid ascent has been described by the 20‑year‑old as "a shock" and a testament to the high standard of competition on the professional circuit. In a candid interview, Greaves reflected on her breakthrough: "Winning a ProTour event so early in my career was unexpected, but it showed me that I belong at this level. The quality on tour is incredible, and I’ve always admired the players I grew up watching.
Being able to compete against them is a dream come true, and it makes every match feel like a bonus." She added that the Women’s World Matchplay is a highlight of the calendar: "It’s a tournament we all look forward to. It does a lot for the women’s game, and I’m thrilled to be back competing for the title again." Greaves’ first hurdle will be a quarter‑final clash with Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen. Meanwhile, 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, who narrowly missed eleven match darts in last year’s final‑leg defeat to Ashton, opens her campaign against veteran Deta Hedman.
Sherrock, who has become a household name after her historic victory over a top‑ranked male player at the 2015 World Championship, said she is "really hungry to win it" after the disappointment of the previous final. "Blackpool is one of my favourite stops on the tour, and I want to reclaim the trophy after missing those match darts last year. Deta is a formidable opponent, so I’ll have to bring my A‑game," she explained.
Lisa Ashton, a four‑time Lakeside Women’s champion, also has a chance to make history. If she repeats her success, she will join Greaves as the only player to win back‑to‑back Women’s World Matchplay titles. Ashton begins her defence against Welsh No 1 Rhian O’Sullivan. "Winning the title in my hometown was an incredible feeling – I was absolutely over the moon," Ashton recalled.
"It’s a PDC title I’ve always wanted, and finally achieving it here in Blackpool is a moment I’ll never forget." The tournament format follows a best‑of‑nine‑legs structure through the quarter‑finals and semi‑finals, culminating in a best‑of‑eleven‑legs final. The schedule is tight, with the quarter‑finals kicking off at 13:00, followed by semi‑finals later in the afternoon and the championship match in the evening.
The prize distribution totals £40,000, with £15,000 awarded to the champion, £8,000 to the runner‑up, £4,500 to each semi‑finalist, and £2,000 to each quarter‑finalist. Beyond the immediate stakes, the event carries broader significance for the growth of women’s darts.
The increased visibility on a mainstream sports channel, combined with a substantial prize pool, signals a shift toward greater professionalisation and commercial interest in the women’s game. Players like Greaves, Sherrock, and Ashton have become ambassadors, inspiring a new generation of female athletes to take up the sport. Their stories of perseverance—whether it’s Greaves breaking new ground as the first woman to win a PDC ranking event, Sherrock’s trail‑blazing performances on the world stage, or Ashton’s enduring dominance—illustrate the evolving landscape of darts.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Action, with additional coverage and highlights available through the NOW streaming platform. Social media updates, including WhatsApp alerts from Sky Sports, will provide real‑time scores, analysis, and behind‑the‑scenes content. As the tournament unfolds, the question on everyone’s mind is who will lift the trophy this year.
Will Greaves cement her status as the dominant force in women’s darts? Can Sherrock overcome last year’s heartbreak and reclaim the crown? Or will Ashton repeat her historic back‑to‑back triumph? The answers will be decided on the oche this Sunday, with the world watching as these elite athletes showcase skill, determination, and the spirit of competition that defines the Women’s World Matchplay.