The Women’s World Matchplay quarterfinals in Blackpool delivered intense darts action! Top seed Beau Greaves showcased her dominance with a stunning 5-1 victory, while Gemma Hayter dramatically survived a last-leg decider. Reigning champion Lisa Ashton secured her spot with a strong 5-2 win, and Fallon Sherrock swept her opponent 5-0, setting up a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s final against Ashton. Greaves and Hayter will now battle it out in the other semi-final.
Quarterfinal Highlights: The Road to the Semis
Beau Greaves: A Masterclass in Dominance
Top seed Beau Greaves wasted no time in Blackpool, immediately asserting why she was the tournament favorite. Her match against Viinikainen was a display of precision and power.
- **Opening with a Bang:** Greaves started with a brilliant 148 checkout (finishing a leg by hitting the exact score of 148, typically ending on a double) in just 15 darts.
- **Breaking the Throw:** She followed this immediately with an equally stunning 144 checkout to ‘break throw’ in the second leg – meaning she won a leg that her opponent had started, gaining a significant advantage.
- Despite Viinikainen briefly getting on the scoreboard with a 14-darter, Greaves quickly regained control.
- **Capping it in Style:** Greaves sealed her 5-1 victory by hitting her first ‘maximum’ of the contest (a perfect score of 180 in three darts) in the final leg.
Gemma Hayter: Surviving a Nail-Biter
Gemma Hayter, the recently crowned Women’s World Masters Champion, faced a true test of nerve against Vicky Pruim. What was expected to be a close encounter lived up to its billing, with both players starting cautiously.
- **The Fight Back:** After a slow start and falling behind, Hayter refused to be shaken. A spectacular 107 checkout brought her roaring back into contention.
- **Last-Leg Drama:** From that moment, Hayter found her rhythm, growing more confident with each throw. The match ultimately went down to a ‘last-leg decider’ – where the final leg determines the winner – which Hayter bravely won to secure her semi-final spot.
Lisa Ashton: The Champion’s Steady Advance
Reigning and defending champion Lisa Ashton began her journey against a determined Rhian O’Sullivan, who was eager for her first win on the prestigious Winter Gardens stage.
- **Setting the Tone:** Ashton immediately set the pace with a rapid 14-darter on her own throw, followed by a 15-dart break.
- **O’Sullivan’s Resilience:** O’Sullivan showed impressive fight, winning two legs consecutively to level the score at 2-2.
- **Champion’s Response:** However, Ashton quickly reasserted her dominance, breaking the tie with a clinical 120 checkout to move ahead 4-2. She eventually closed out the match with a solid 5-2 victory.
Fallon Sherrock: A Flawless Performance
The most one-sided match of the quarterfinals saw last year’s beaten finalist Fallon Sherrock deliver a dominant performance against reigning Lakeside World Champion Deta Hedman, who was making her Matchplay debut.
- **Early Domination:** Sherrock quickly doubled her lead with an early break of throw, then extended her advantage with a couple of ruthless 13-darters.
- **Total Control:** Her comprehensive 5-0 win was particularly striking because Hedman remarkably didn’t get a single ‘dart at double’ in the entire contest – meaning Hedman never even had a chance to attempt a finish to win a leg, highlighting Sherrock’s complete control.
- **Eye on the Prize:** Sherrock will undoubtedly be hoping to avenge her defeat in last year’s final against Lisa Ashton, where she narrowly missed out on the title.
Looking Ahead: The Semi-Final Showdowns
The stage is now set for two electrifying semi-final matches, promising more high-stakes darts drama:
- Beau Greaves vs. Gemma Hayter: A clash between the dominant top seed and the resilient comeback queen.
- Lisa Ashton vs. Fallon Sherrock: The highly anticipated rematch of last year’s final, with Sherrock seeking redemption against the reigning champion.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
