The latest PDC Women’s Series weekend in Leicester delivered thrilling darts action! Beau Greaves showcased her unparalleled dominance, winning both tournaments she entered on Sunday and securing her 11th and 12th titles of the season. Saturday saw victories for darts stalwarts Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock, with Ashton’s win crucially confirming her qualification for the prestigious World Darts Championship. Greaves now holds a commanding lead in the rankings, making her a formidable force in the women’s game.
Unstoppable Beau Greaves Dominates Sunday’s Events
Darts sensation Beau Greaves once again proved why she’s the player to beat, sweeping both of Sunday’s tournaments. After taking a break on Saturday, Greaves returned with a vengeance, adding her 11th and 12th titles to an already incredible season.
Event 19: A Close Call and a Strong Finish
In the first event of Sunday, Greaves started strong, not dropping a single leg in her opening three matches. However, she faced a significant challenge from Gemma Hayter, who narrowly missed three match darts. Greaves recovered, navigating through the next rounds with more ease, despite a slightly lower average in her semi-final against Kirsty Hutchinson.
The final pitted Greaves against Lisa Ashton, the world number two, who had demonstrated excellent form with an average over 90 in her previous match. Ashton had opportunities to level the score after falling 1-3 behind but couldn’t convert them. Greaves capitalized, securing key legs and sealing her 5-3 victory with an impressive 83-finish on a 14-darter. This win marked her 11th title of the season.
Other notable performances in Event 19 included Jo Locke and Kirsty Hutchinson reaching the semi-finals. Fallon Sherrock was narrowly defeated by Lisa Ashton in the last 16.
Event 20: Greaves’ Flawless Performance
The final tournament of the weekend saw Greaves elevate her game even further, suggesting her previous matches were just a warm-up. She consistently maintained averages of 88 or higher in five matches, dropping an astonishingly low three legs throughout the entire competition.
Her dominant run culminated in a 5-0 whitewash against an overwhelmed Aileen de Graaf in the final. Greaves showcased her clinical finishing with checkouts of 110 and 108, converting her third match dart for a 15-darter to secure her 12th title.
Jo Locke reached her second semi-final of the day in Event 20, alongside Karolina Ratajska. Fallon Sherrock, Deta Hedman, and Gemma Hayter were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Aileen de Graaf. Lisa Ashton exited earlier, losing in the last 64 to Rhian O’Sullivan.
Saturday’s Victories: Ashton and Sherrock Shine
Saturday’s events were equally exciting, with titles going to two of darts’ most prominent female players, Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock. Both players now boast an impressive 21 career titles on the Women’s Series, with Sherrock’s win being particularly significant as her first of the current year.
Event 17: Ashton’s Path to World Championship Qualification
In the first event on Saturday, Lisa Ashton faced a tough challenge in the semi-final against Gemma Hayter, winning 5-4 despite a slightly lower average. Hayter showed resilience, including a 160 checkout, but Ashton ultimately prevailed with a 21-darter in the deciding leg. Ashton then dominated her first final of the season, securing a convincing 5-0 victory over Lauryn Salter, who was making her debut in a final. Hayter’s journey to the semi-finals included impressive wins over Lorraine Winstanley and Aileen de Graaf, who had earlier knocked out Fallon Sherrock.
Crucially, Lisa Ashton’s victory in Event 17 secured her spot in the upcoming World Darts Championship, a testament to her consistent high-level performance.
Event 18: Sherrock Breaks Her Season Duck
Event 18 saw Gemma Hayter again reach the semi-finals, but she couldn’t overcome Fallon Sherrock, who advanced with a 5-3 win. Sherrock then went on to claim her first title of the season with a commanding 5-0 victory over Lisa Ashton in the final. Ashton, having played the maximum number of matches for the day, appeared to be running on empty. Prior to the final, Ashton had prevented Karolina Ratajska from reaching her third final.
PDC Women’s Series Rankings and World Championship Spots
The Women’s Series rankings reflect Beau Greaves’ extraordinary season. She currently holds a massive lead, having accumulated nearly £35,000 in prize money. Second-placed Lisa Ashton has earned roughly half that amount, highlighting Greaves’ dominance.
The race for World Championship qualification is heating up, with the top players securing their spots:
- Beau Greaves: Securely qualified with a significant lead.
- Lisa Ashton: Also qualified, thanks to her strong performances, including her win this weekend.
- Fallon Sherrock: Currently in a qualifying position.
- Gemma Hayter: Holding onto a qualifying spot.
Other players still in contention for the remaining qualification spots include Deta Hedman, Vicky Pruim, Trina Gulliver, and Karolina Ratajska, among others.
The Road Ahead: Final Weekend in Wigan
The thrilling 2023 PDC Women’s Series will conclude on October 10th and 11th with the final four tournaments taking place in Wigan. These events will determine the remaining qualifiers and the final standings for the season.
Tournament Format and Prize Money Overview
The Women’s Series events follow a clear structure:
- Matches up to and including the Last 16: Best of 7 Legs.
- Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Final: Best of 9 Legs.
Each event offers a total prize fund of £15,000, distributed as follows:
- Winner: £2,500
- Runner-Up: £1,000
- Semi-finalists: £750
- Quarter-finalists: £500
- Last 16: £300
- Last 32: £200
- Last 64: £75 (if at least 128 players participate)
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
