Beau Greaves continued to break new ground in professional darts when she became the inaugural female competitor to secure a win on the PDC European Tour. Her triumph over Daryl Gurney in Prague earned her a place in the second round of the Czech Darts Open, where she will face world number two Luke Humphries. The 22‑year‑old Englishwoman demonstrated remarkable resilience, overturning a 3‑1 deficit to clinch a 6‑4 victory on Friday night. The win not only propelled her into the last‑32 stage slated for Saturday evening, but also set up a potential clash with either Nathan Aspinall or Andrew Gilding in the third round on Sunday afternoon, depending on how the bracket unfolds.
Greaves' achievement builds on a series of historic firsts she has already recorded this year. In February, she became the first woman to throw a nine‑dart finish on the PDC Pro Tour, doing so against Mensur Suljovic. Later, she captured a PDC ranking title by edging Michael Smith 8‑7 in Players Championship 11, marking another barrier‑breaking moment.
She also made history as the first female qualifier for a European Tour event when she reached the Hungarian Darts Trophy earlier in the season. Although she fell to Rob Cross in the opening round of the Budapest event despite posting an impressive 104 average, Greaves proved her mettle in Prague by sealing the match with a double‑one finish. This win was particularly satisfying given that she had previously lost a tight 3‑2 encounter to Gurney 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 underline the emotional weight of playing in front of a passionate Czech audience and the confidence she is gaining with each high‑profile match.
The match itself showcased Greaves' ability to string together rapid legs, as she recorded three consecutive finishes in 14, 13 and 11 darts. After Gurney opened with a 144 checkout—a finish that had previously helped him defeat her at Alexandra Palace—Greaves rallied, demonstrating both composure and firepower to turn the tide. Looking ahead to her encounter with Humphries, Greaves recalled their meeting at the 2025 UK Open and expressed respect for his calibre: "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." Her pragmatic approach suggests she is already formulating a game plan to counter Humphries' precision and experience. Other notable performances on Friday included Niko Springer, who posted a 102 average and dispatched Martin Homola 6‑0, earning a second‑round showdown with world number one Luke Littler. Springer remained confident, stating, "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." The tournament also saw several big names exit early.
Joe Cullen, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Rob Cross were all eliminated by Stephen Burton, Mario Vandenbogaerde and Keane Barry respectively, highlighting the depth of talent on the tour. Luke Humphries, who received a bye into the second round as a seeded player, is the defending champion of the Czech Darts Open, having won the event in both 2023 and 2024. He dispatched Kim Huybrechts 8‑1 in the 2024 final and overcame Josh Rock 8‑5 last year.
Known as "Cool Hand," Humphries is aiming for a fourth title in five years, a feat he previously achieved by beating Rob Cross 8‑5 in the 2022 final. Other seeds in the Prague draw include Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, who are set to face Mario Vandenbogaerde and Callan Rydz respectively on Saturday night. The event’s schedule features an afternoon session at 12:00 BST and an evening session at 18:00 BST, offering fans multiple viewing windows.
Sky Sports continues to serve as the primary broadcaster for darts, covering marquee events such as 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 those preferring streaming, NOW provides live darts coverage without a contract, ensuring that enthusiasts can follow the sport wherever they are. Greaves' breakthrough at the Czech Darts Open not only adds another chapter to her rapidly growing résumé but also signals a shifting landscape in professional darts, where female competitors are increasingly challenging the traditional male‑dominated hierarchy. As she prepares for her next match against Humphries, the darts community will be watching closely to see whether she can extend her historic run and perhaps set the stage for even greater achievements in the sport.