Beau Greaves Falls in Decider at PDC World Darts Championship 2026

Beau Greaves, the 21-year-old rising star from Doncaster, pushed Daryl Gurney to the limit but was edged out in a deciding set at the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Greaves hoped to follow in the footsteps of Fallon Sherrock, who made history in 2020 by winning multiple matches at the event for women in darts.

The early stages swung between the players, with the first four sets going with the throw as Gurney claimed two deciding legs to move ahead before Greaves found an answering burst.

In the second set, Greaves staged a rapid comeback, needing just 37 darts to win three legs. A 128 checkout on the bullseye sealed a 12-dart break of throw, followed by a 10-darter to level the match at one set apiece.

The decider delivered high drama when Gurney executed a remarkable 144 checkout to tighten the scoreline and draw within a single leg of victory. He then closed out the match after Greaves narrowly missed a 148 finish to extend the contest.

After the match, Gurney praised Greaves as “the best female darts player on the planet.” The Northern Irishman, a two-time major winner and World Cup champion, added that she is the kind of player who can win big titles in the future.

Greaves arrived at the World Championship riding a remarkable 2025 season, topping the Women’s Series standings, finishing the year with an 86-match winning streak, and reaching the World Youth Championship final. Her performances earned her a PDC tour card for next year through the Development Tour.

Gurney looked ahead with optimism: “Next year, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. She’ll win some PDC tournaments.”

Greaves had previously appeared at the World Championship in 2022, losing 3-0 to William O’Connor. She skipped the event in the two following years to compete on the WDF Women’s World Championship circuit, where she claimed the title on both occasions.

Other first-round results and notes

In Friday’s early action, William O’Connor delivered one of the standout performances of the round, averaging 102.36 in a 3-0 victory over Krzysztof Kciuk of Poland, setting up a second-round clash with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.

England’s Josh Rock began his title bid with a 3-1 win over Gemma Hayter. The 24-year-old seed 11 has enjoyed strong form this year, including semi-final runs at major events and a World Cup win alongside Gurney.

Rock’s finishing let him down briefly in the third set, allowing Hayter to pull a set back, but he regrouped to seal the win with a decisive 81 checkout in the fourth set. Other first-round results included Dutchman Kevin Doets beating Matthew Dennant 3-1 to set up a tie with Kenya’s David Munyua, and American Leonard Gates overcoming Mickey Mansell 3-2 in a match full of twists. England’s Ryan Meikle advanced with a straight-sets win over Argentina’s Jesus Salate.

With the first round complete after nine days of action, attention turns to the second round on Saturday, where top seeds and rising stars alike will chase a place in the last 32.

Saturday’s second-round schedule

From 12:30 GMT:

• Ryan Searle vs Brendan Dolan
• Andreas Harrysson vs Motomu Sakai
• Dirk van Duijvenbode vs James Hurrell
• Dave Chisnall vs Ricardo Pietreczko

From 19:00 GMT:

• Michael Smith vs Niels Zonneveld
• Chris Dobey vs Andrew Gilding
• Stephen Bunting vs Nitin Kumar

What this means for Greaves

Greaves’ solid performance against a seasoned pro underscores her rapid rise in the sport. Her blend of scoring power and nerve under pressure marks her as a player capable of challenging the sport’s best in the seasons ahead.

Analysts point to Greaves’ poise as a sign she has the tools to contend for major titles. Her momentum from 2025 could translate into deep runs in senior events next year.

Short summary: Beau Greaves pushed Daryl Gurney to a final-set decider but fell short 3-2. The 21-year-old’s display highlighted her potential and confirmed she is among the sport’s rising stars after a standout year. Her year-end form and youth success set up big expectations for 2026.

Key insight: Greaves proved she belongs among the sport’s elite and is poised for a major impact in the near future. BBC Sport

Discover the latest news and current events in Sports News as of 19-12-2025. The article titled " Beau Greaves Falls in Decider at PDC World Darts Championship 2026 " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the Sports News field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.

The information in " Beau Greaves Falls in Decider at PDC World Darts Championship 2026 " helps you make better-informed decisions within the Sports News category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.