Beau Greaves continued to rewrite the record books in darts when she became the inaugural woman to secure a win on the Professional Darts Corporation’s European Tour. Her triumph set up a second‑round encounter with world No.
2 Luke Humphries at the Czech Darts Open, underscoring her rapid ascent in a sport traditionally dominated by men. The 22‑year‑old Englishwoman demonstrated remarkable resilience in Prague on Friday evening, overturning a 3‑1 deficit to defeat seasoned campaigner Daryl Gurney 6‑4.
The comeback forced a last‑32 clash with Humphries on Saturday night, and the victor of that match will face either Nathan Aspinall or Andrew Gilding in the third round on Sunday afternoon. Greaves’ win not only extended her run in the tournament but also cemented her status as a trailblazer for women in professional darts.
This achievement follows a series of historic firsts for Greaves. In February, she became the first woman to hit a perfect nine‑dart finish on the PDC Pro Tour, doing so against Mensur Suljovic. Later, she captured her maiden PDC ranking title by edging Michael Smith 8‑7 at Players Championship 11, another groundbreaking moment. Earlier this year, Greaves also broke new ground by qualifying for a European Tour event for the first time, when she reached the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
Although she fell to Rob Cross in the opening round of the Budapest event despite posting a lofty 104 average, Greaves’ performance in Prague showed she can sustain high‑level play across multiple matches. She sealed the win over Gurney with a decisive double‑one finish, avenging a narrow 3‑2 loss she suffered to the same opponent in the first round of the 2026 World Championship.
Reflecting on her performance, Greaves said, "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." Her comments highlight the electric atmosphere of the venue and the support she received from fans, which she described as a vital component of her success.
The match itself was a showcase of skill and composure. After Gurney produced a 144 checkout that gave him an early two‑leg lead, Greaves responded with three consecutive legs completed in 14, 13, and 11 darts respectively.
Her ability to string together high‑scoring visits under pressure was a key factor in overturning the early deficit. Looking ahead to her showdown with Humphries, Greaves recalled their previous meeting at the 2025 UK Open and emphasized the need to elevate her game. "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 also featured other notable storylines on Friday. Young talent Niko Springer posted a 102 average while dispatching Martin Homola 6‑0, earning a second‑round meeting with world No.
1 Luke Littler. Springer expressed confidence, noting, "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." Meanwhile, several high‑profile players suffered early exits.
Joe Cullen, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Rob Cross were all eliminated by Stephen Burton, Mario Vandenbogaerde, and Keane Barry respectively, underscoring the depth of competition on the tour. Luke Humphries, who, like Littler, received a bye into the second round as one of the sixteen seeded competitors, is a two‑time defending champion at the Czech Darts Open.
He dominated Kim Huybrechts 8‑1 in the 2024 final and defeated Josh Rock 8‑5 in the 2023 edition. Known as "Cool Hand," Humphries is aiming for a fourth title in five years, having previously beaten Rob Cross 8‑5 in the 2022 final.
Other seeded stars in Prague include Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, who are slated to face Mario Vandenbogaerde and Callan Rydz respectively on Saturday night. Their presence adds further prestige to the event and promises high‑octane matches for spectators. The tournament schedule is split into two sessions each day: an afternoon slot at 12:00 BST and an evening slot at 18:00 BST. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, which remains the primary broadcaster for darts in the UK.
Upcoming major events on Sky Sports include 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 coverage of darts and a range of other sports without the need for a long‑term contract.
Greaves’ historic win not only adds another chapter to her personal story but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring female darts players worldwide. By consistently breaking barriers—whether by hitting a nine‑dart finish, winning a ranking title, or now conquering a European Tour match—she is reshaping perceptions of what women can achieve in the sport. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on her next match, where she will test her mettle against one of the game’s elite and continue to push the boundaries of gender representation in professional darts.