Beau Greaves, the 22‑year‑old rising star, made a historic appearance on the PDC European Tour when she faced Rob Cross in the opening round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy. The match turned into a gripping showdown that went right down to the deciding 11th leg, with Greaves ultimately falling 6‑5. Her participation was already a milestone, as she became the first woman ever to qualify for a European Tour event after securing spots for both the Budapest leg and the upcoming Czech Darts Open. From the first throw, the contest was anything but ordinary.
Cross opened the game with a spectacular 170 checkout, signaling his intent to dominate. Greaves, however, quickly responded, taking the next two legs and demonstrating why she has been a force in the PDC women’s series. She kept the pressure on with a blistering average of 104.88, the highest of the match, and launched five perfect 180s, showcasing both precision and composure under the bright lights of the Budapest venue. The momentum swung back and forth throughout the encounter.
At one point Greaves found herself just one leg away from a historic victory, leading 5‑4 and edging ever closer to a groundbreaking win for women’s darts on the European Tour stage. Yet Cross, the seasoned former world champion, steadied himself and claimed the next two legs, leveling the score at 5‑5 and forcing a final, winner‑takes‑all leg. In the decisive moment, Greaves was left with 70 and missed her first two darts, a costly error that handed Cross the opportunity to finish on a 61 checkout and seal the match. After the match, Cross praised Greaves, calling her "brilliant" and expressing confidence that she is destined for greater achievements.
He highlighted her phenomenal performance on the ProTour and suggested that, as she gains more experience on larger stages, she will continue to break barriers and set new standards for female competitors in the sport. Greaves, for her part, reflected on her own preparation, noting that she feels content with her current setup and is eager to prove herself further in upcoming events.
The evening’s action was not limited to the Greaves‑Cross duel. Hungary’s own Laszlo Kadar produced a major upset by edging out Daryl Gurney 6‑5, earning a place in the second round against Jonny Clayton. Defending champion Niko Springer cruised through his opening match with a 6‑1 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven, while former champions Joe Cullen and Dave Chisnall also advanced comfortably, each posting 6‑3 wins over their respective opponents.
Several top‑ranked players, including Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen, received byes into the second round, setting the stage for a series of high‑stakes encounters. Humphries, fresh off a win at Players Championship 28 in Leicester, will face World Matchplay semi‑finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode, who dominated David Pisek 6‑1. The tournament schedule continued with a packed afternoon session featuring players such as Jonas Masalin, Andrew Gilding, Milan Biro, Ritchie Edhouse, Connor Scutt, Niko Springer, William O'Connor, Samuel Price, Keane Barry, Martin Schindler, Ryan Joyce, Cristo Reyes, Dave Chisnall, and Andras Borbely.
The evening session delivered further drama, with Dirk van Duijvenbode, Laszlo Kadar, Krzysztof Ratajski, Callan Rydz, Joe Cullen, Rob Cross, Nandor Major, Niels Zonneveld, Tom Sykes, Cameron Menzies, and James Hurrell all competing for spots in the next round. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one Luke Littler will defend his title. The tournament runs from September 28 to October 4 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering another opportunity to stream top‑level darts without a contract. The Hungarian Darts Trophy has already delivered memorable moments, and Beau Greaves’ historic debut, despite the narrow loss, signals a bright future for women’s darts on the professional circuit.