Beau Greaves Eyes a Deep Run at the World Darts Championship

Beau Greaves has rapidly emerged as a world-class talent, attracting attention with her consistency and fearless play on big stages.

The 21-year-old opens her PDC World Championship bid against 22nd seed Daryl Gurney at Alexandra Palace in London on Friday evening, as darts’ premier event gets underway.

Despite not yet having a World Championship win at Ally Pally, bookmakers list her as the favourite to progress to the second round, reflecting her dominance in the Women’s Series and her ascent through youth-level darts.

Greaves rose to prominence last October after defeating reigning world champion Luke Littler to reach the World Youth Championship final. The buildup was so intense that ticket-holders and fans reported heavy online demand for live score updates.

That breakthrough came amid an 86-match unbeaten run on the Women’s Series, which helped secure an expanded 128-player field for the Worlds.

Littler, who became the youngest world darts champion aged 17, said he would rather avoid Greaves when the draw came out. “Beau Greaves is definitely one I wouldn’t want to play,” he told INLIBER Sport. “She’s world class and she’s won the Women’s World Championship three times. She’s dominated the Women’s Series for years and she’ll only improve.”

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld predicted a strong showing could even earn her a spot in the eight-player Premier League, though 2021 champion Gerwyn Price called that idea a “joke.”

Historically, only Fallon Sherrock has won matches on the World Championship stage at Ally Pally, with Greaves’ first appearance in 2021 ending in a first-round defeat to William O’Connor.

From humble beginnings to a rising force

Greaves began playing darts at age 10 in her brother’s bedroom and even earned a Blue Peter badge for her early achievements. She once balanced the sport with playing Fortnite and watching Sherrock’s successes on TV.

Despite a rising profile, she remains grounded, continuing to play league darts at her local Doncaster social club in the north of England.

In 2024 she dismissed the notion that women could consistently beat the top men at Ally Pally, declining a place in the World Championship for a second consecutive year.

Still, finishing runner-up on the Development Tour earned her a two-year professional tour card, and her televised performances have only boosted her self-belief. “You can’t rule it out completely, but it would require an exceptionally long and excellent run,” she acknowledged about breaking through in this era.

Her odds for the title sit around 100-1, with 14 players ahead in the betting, echoing the long odds faced by Littler a year ago when he reached the final for the first time.

Recent form and big-match potential

Greaves has already shown she can test elite opponents. She reached the World Youth final after defeating Gian van Veen, and she pushed former world champions Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen to deciding legs at the Grand Slam of Darts, even outscoring Van Gerwen in their clash.

Laura Turner, a former Women’s World Championship quarter-finalist, said Greaves is doing things we haven’t seen from female players with such regularity. “She’s breaking new ground and doing it consistently,” Turner commented.

Luke Humphries, a former world number two, believes Greaves will benefit from stepping up to the main tour next year, though he warns that learning to cope with losing at the highest level will be part of her growth. “She’s an amazing player, but you can’t judge her yet because she hasn’t spent time on the main tour,” he said. “If she keeps this level, a couple of years from now she could be among the top 16 or so.”

Greaves is currently listed around 120th in the PDC world rankings (based on prize money), a figure expected to rise once she integrates with the main tour. If she overcomes Gurney, she could meet Callan Rydz in round two and Josh Rock in the third round, presenting a formidable path on the most prestigious stage in darts.

Matt Edgar, who has played in three World Championships, believes Greaves could go deep this year and will gain significant experience on the main tour that will sharpen her play in the years ahead. “She could be a real force once she has more exposure to the top players week in and week out.”

In summary, Greaves is transitioning from youth and development circuits to the professional arena, with the potential to become a leading figure in the sport within a few years if she continues to perform at this level.

Additional reporting by Ruth Gregory and Charlotte Coates.

Expert comment

Expert opinion: Analysts agree Greaves has the talent to thrive on the main tour, but advancing deep into the World Championship will hinge on consistency against the game's best week after week.

Short summary

Beau Greaves, 21, is emerging as a major darts talent and has earned a World Championship spot at Alexandra Palace. Her opener against Daryl Gurney is a stern test, but experts expect a bright future as she adapts to the main tour. If she maintains her level, she could push deep into the event and beyond in the next few years.

Beau Greaves’ rapid rise signals a new wave of young players challenging darts’ elite on the biggest stages. Source: BBC Sport

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