This past weekend at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Women’s Series saw reigning star Beau Greaves dominate on Saturday with two commanding victories. However, Sunday brought unexpected upsets as Greaves was defeated twice, opening the door for other talents. Deta Hedman secured a prestigious title, and Vicky Pruim clinched the final event, marking a significant moment in the series. These results have intensified the race for crucial qualification spots in upcoming major tournaments.
Greaves’ Unstoppable Saturday: A Double Triumph
The latest weekend of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Women’s Series in Leicester began as many expected: with the seemingly unstoppable force of Beau Greaves dominating the competition. The 22-year-old prodigy from Doncaster arrived with an already impressive collection of titles, and by the end of Saturday evening, she had added two more crowns, solidifying her status as the leading figure in women’s darts.
Event One: A Masterclass in Dominance
Greaves’ first triumph was nothing short of devastating. Across seven matches, she surrendered a mere four legs – an astonishing statistic given the high calibre of her opponents. She systematically dismantled a field of elite female players, including Swedish standout Vicky Pruim and the renowned Fallon Sherrock. Her path to victory also saw her overcome Sherrock’s sister and emphatically defeat Lisa Ashton in the semi-finals.
In the final, she faced the legendary Trina Gulliver, a ten-time world champion. Despite Gulliver’s recent form, she found no answer to Greaves’ relentless brilliance, who cruised to another commanding win.
Key Matches – Event One Highlights:
- Semi-Final: Beau Greaves 5 – 1 Lisa Ashton
- Final: Beau Greaves defeated Trina Gulliver
Event Two: Doubling Down on Success
Later that afternoon, Greaves secured her second title of the day. She kicked off with a colossal 105.78 average, sweeping aside Janine Gough with hardly any resistance. While she faced a tense and dramatic encounter with the reigning Lakeside champion, Deta Hedman – which she narrowly won in a deciding leg – Greaves appeared virtually untouchable throughout the rest of the event.
Her magnificent Saturday sweep was completed with another supremely polished performance in the final against Karolina Ratajska, wife of Polish darts star Krzysztof Ratajski.
Key Matches – Event Two Highlights:
- Semi-Final: Beau Greaves 5 – 1 Lisa Ashton
- Final: Beau Greaves defeated Karolina Ratajska
Sunday’s Shocks: Greaves’ Dominance Challenged
Sunday, however, brought the most unexpected twists of the weekend: Beau Greaves was defeated. This turn of events immediately blew the competition wide open, injecting fresh excitement and intrigue.
Event Three: Hedman Claims the Crown
In the third event, Welsh thrower Rhian O’Sullivan produced an inspired display to eliminate the dominant Doncaster ace in the quarter-finals, a significant upset that shook the tournament.
Following a series of high-calibre matches, the event culminated in a fascinating showdown between ‘The Caribbean Queen’, Deta Hedman, and Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen. The vastly experienced Hedman started strong, taking an early 2-0 lead. Viinikainen admirably fought back to level the score, but Hedman’s class, composure, and enduring quality ultimately prevailed. The 66-year-old icon asserted her superiority to claim another prestigious title.
Key Matches – Event Three Highlights:
- Quarter-Final: Rhian O’Sullivan 5 – 4 Beau Greaves (Major Upset!)
- Semi-Final: Deta Hedman 5 – 3 Rhian O’Sullivan
- Final: Deta Hedman defeated Kirsi Viinikainen
Event Four: Pruim’s Breakthrough Victory
In the concluding event of the weekend, Gemma Hayter became the second player of the day to topple Beau Greaves, edging a thrilling quarter-final encounter in a dramatic deciding leg. The talented Eastleigh thrower even produced a sublime ten-darter during the match, adding further shine to one of the finest victories of her growing career.
Hayter’s momentum continued into the semi-finals, where she impressively dismantled Deta Hedman 5-1. However, despite these formidable performances, it was ultimately Vicky Pruim who emerged with the title.
The Swedish star first dispatched Karolina Ratajska before overcoming Lauryn Salter to secure her spot in the final. Neither Pruim nor Hayter found their most fluent rhythm in the deciding match, but it was the Belgian-born Pruim who stormed to a commanding 4-0 lead. Although Hayter mounted a late comeback, clawing back two legs, the deficit proved too great, and Pruim clinically sealed her victory in the subsequent leg.
Key Matches – Event Four Highlights:
- Quarter-Final: Gemma Hayter 5 – 4 Beau Greaves (Another Upset!)
- Semi-Final: Vicky Pruim 5 – 3 Lauryn Salter
- Final: Vicky Pruim defeated Gemma Hayter
Looking Ahead: The Race for Qualification Heats Up
Despite the unexpected defeats on Sunday, Beau Greaves remains comfortably at the top of the Women’s Series Order of Merit after twelve completed events. She appears virtually guaranteed a coveted spot in the Grand Slam of Darts.
The qualification landscape for the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship is also taking shape. Should Greaves secure her qualification through the Pro Tour Order of Merit – a scenario that seems increasingly likely – the next three eligible players in the standings would currently be Lisa Ashton, Deta Hedman, and Gemma Hayter. However, it’s considered highly improbable that Hedman will pursue Alexandra Palace qualification, as the legendary veteran is expected to prioritize defending her WDF World Darts Championship crown at Lakeside.
The Women’s Series circuit now moves to Wigan on June 20-21, where the intense battle for qualification, ranking points, and silverware will undoubtedly resume with even greater fervor.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
