The penultimate weekend of the Women’s Series brought intense darting action, shaping the field for two of darts’ most prestigious events: the World Championships at Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) and the Grand Slam. While darts sensation Beau Greaves continues her winning streak, securing two more titles, the real drama unfolded in the race for qualification spots. Lisa Ashton has officially booked her return to Ally Pally and is strongly positioned for the Grand Slam. Fallon Sherrock also solidified her World Championship spot. Meanwhile, Gemma Hayter is now in a strong position for her Ally Pally return, setting up a nail-biting showdown between darts veteran Deta Hedman and newcomer Vicky Pruim for the final coveted World Championship berth.
Greaves’ Unstoppable Dominance Continues
Darts prodigy Beau Greaves once again proved why she’s a force to be reckoned with, adding two more Women’s Series titles (her 58th and 59th!) to her impressive collection. This weekend also marked her 100th event played. While her dominance is undeniable, it’s important to note that Greaves has already secured her spots for both the World Championships (via the ProTour) and the Grand Slam (by winning the Women’s World Matchplay). She continues to play, likely making the most of her eligibility for these events before potential future changes.
Ashton Secures Ally Pally Return and Grand Slam Lead
The “Lancashire Rose,” Lisa Ashton, had a stellar weekend. She clinched her 21st Women’s Series title and reached another final, ensuring her qualification for the World Championships. This will be her sixth appearance at Ally Pally, and she’ll be eager to secure her first-ever win there after previous attempts. Ashton also holds a significant £5,400 lead over Fallon Sherrock in the Grand Slam race. With only four events remaining, each offering £2,500, Ashton is in an excellent position to reach Wolverhampton for the sixth time in her career.
- World Championship Qualification: Secured!
- Grand Slam Position: Strong lead (£5,400)
- Ally Pally History: Sixth appearance, aiming for first win
Sherrock Locks In World Championship Spot
The “Queen of the Palace,” Fallon Sherrock, also had a successful weekend, winning her 21st Women’s Series title by defeating Ashton in the final. Coupled with a quarter-final run on Sunday, Sherrock now boasts a comfortable £4,400 advantage in the World Championship race. This gap makes her return to Ally Pally for a seventh time highly probable, having only missed qualification once since 2020.
- World Championship Qualification: Highly probable!
- Title Wins: 21st Women’s Series title achieved
Hayter’s Strong Push for Ally Pally
Gemma Hayter made significant strides this weekend with two semi-final appearances. These strong performances allowed her to overtake Vicky Pruim in the World Championship Race, establishing a comfortable £1,850 lead. While not fully guaranteed, her return to Ally Pally after her debut last year is now firmly within her own control.
- Current Position: Third in World Championship Race
- Lead: £1,850 over Pruim
- Outlook: Qualification is in her own hands
The Battle for the Final Spot: Hedman vs. Pruim
The most intense drama is unfolding for the fourth and final World Championship spot. Veteran Deta Hedman, despite not having her best weekend, managed to secure a quarter-final and a last-16 finish. This was just enough for the “Caribbean Queen” to edge past Vicky Pruim and move into the crucial fourth position. However, her lead is a razor-thin £50, meaning the final block of events will be a winner-take-all scenario for Hedman, who aims to return to Ally Pally after a six-year absence.
Vicky Pruim’s Challenge
Vicky Pruim entered the weekend in fourth place, on the cusp of a World Championship debut. Unfortunately, a challenging weekend saw her drop to sixth. Despite two last-128 losses on Saturday, she showed some resilience on Sunday. Pruim now sits just £50 behind Deta Hedman. She will need a significant performance in the final four events to reclaim her spot and make her dream debut at Ally Pally.
- Deta Hedman: Currently in 4th place, with a £50 lead. Aims for first Ally Pally appearance in six years.
- Vicky Pruim: Currently in 6th place, £50 behind Hedman. Needs strong performances to secure debut.
The Grand Finale: Wigan Awaits
The final weekend of Women’s Series action will take place in Wigan on October 10th and 11th. All eyes will be on the thrilling head-to-head battle between Deta Hedman and Vicky Pruim for that last World Championship spot, promising an electrifying conclusion to the series.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
