Beau Greaves continued to make headlines in the world of professional darts when she became the first female competitor to secure a win on the Professional Darts Corporation's European Tour. Her triumph over Daryl Gurney in the opening round of the Czech Darts Open not only earned her a place in the second round against world number two Luke Humphries, but also cemented her status as a trailblazer for women in the sport. The 22-year-old Yorkshirewoman displayed remarkable resilience on the oche in Prague on Friday night. After falling behind 3-1, Greaves fought back with a series of high‑scoring visits, eventually clinching the match 6-4.
Her comeback was highlighted by a flawless finish on double one that sealed Gurney's defeat. This victory sets up a last‑32 encounter with Humphries on Saturday evening, with the winner of that clash slated to meet either Nathan Aspinall or Andrew Gilding in the third round on Sunday afternoon. Greaves' achievement follows a string of historic firsts for women in darts.
Earlier this year she became the inaugural female player to hit a nine‑dart finish on the PDC Pro Tour, doing so against Mensur Suljovic in February. She also broke new ground by winning a PDC ranking title, edging out Michael Smith 8-7 at Players Championship 11.
In addition, she was the first woman to qualify for a European Tour event when she reached the Hungarian Darts Trophy last month. Although she suffered a first‑round loss to Rob Cross in Budapest despite posting an impressive 104 average, Greaves' performance in Prague demonstrates that she can compete with the sport's elite. Her win over Gurney, a player who had previously bested her 3-2 in the opening round of the 2026 World Championship, was especially significant. Greaves described the experience after the match: "It feels amazing.
It's just so nice to win a game, I was so nervous at the start, I don't know why. It took me so long to get settled.
It means loads to me, the crowd's fantastic. It's such a tight stage and you feel so much from the crowd. I'm really enjoying it and loving the experience." The Yorkshirewoman's composure under pressure was evident when she responded to an early two‑leg deficit, even after Gurney produced a 144 checkout—the same finish that had helped him defeat her at Alexandra Palace late last year.
Greaves' ability to stay focused and turn the match around showcases the mental toughness required at the highest level of darts. Looking ahead to her showdown with Luke Humphries, Greaves reflected on their previous encounter at the 2025 UK Open. "I've played Luke on the big stage before so I know what to expect, he's world class so I'm going to have to play a lot better than I did tonight.
What more do you want than on a Euro Tour to play one of the best players in the world? I'll look forward to it and I'll be ready," she said. The Czech Darts Open continues to produce exciting storylines beyond Greaves' historic win. On Friday, Niko Springer posted a 102 average while dispatching Martin Homola 6-0, earning a second‑round meeting with world number one Luke Littler.
Springer expressed confidence ahead of the clash: "I have nothing to lose to be honest. I'm feeling very confident. Of course it will be hard, but it's best of 11, so let's go, I'm ready." Other notable upsets included the early exits of big‑name players Joe Cullen, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Rob Cross, who were eliminated by Stephen Burton, Mario Vandenbogaerde and Keane Barry respectively.
Meanwhile, seeded players Luke Humphries and Luke Littler both received byes into the second round as part of the tournament's 16‑seed structure. Humphries, a two‑time champion at the Czech Darts Open, is aiming for a third title after dominating Kim Huybrechts 8-1 in the 2024 final and defeating Josh Rock 8-5 last year.
Known as "Cool Hand," he has already claimed the event twice and is targeting a fourth victory in five years. Other seeds such as Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price are also set to compete, with van Gerwen facing Vandenbogaerde and Price taking on Callan Rydz on Saturday night.
The tournament schedule features afternoon sessions at 12:00 BST and evening sessions at 18:00 BST, providing fans multiple opportunities to watch live action. Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts in the UK, covering major events like the World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December–3 January). For viewers who prefer streaming, the NOW platform offers live darts coverage without a contractual commitment. Greaves' breakthrough at the Czech Darts Open is more than just a personal milestone; it signals a broader shift in the sport toward greater inclusivity and recognition of female talent.
Her continued success will likely inspire a new generation of women to pick up a dart and aim for the professional stage. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Greaves to see whether she can maintain her momentum against Humphries and potentially rewrite the narrative of women's participation in elite darts competitions.