Beau Greaves Makes History with Players Championship 11 Victory
Darts fans witnessed a groundbreaking moment as Beau Greaves secured the Players Championship 11 title, making her the first woman in history to win a PDC ranking event. The 22-year-old sensation from England overcame a field of top male professionals, culminating in a dramatic final against former World Champion Michael Smith.
A Thrilling Final Showdown
The final match was a spectacle of skill and nerve. Michael Smith, a formidable opponent and the 2023 World Champion, initially took a 2-0 lead. However, Greaves displayed incredible resilience, winning five consecutive legs to turn the tide. She further demonstrated her finishing power with a maximum 170 checkout during the match. The contest ultimately went down to a deciding leg. With Smith poised on a 20-point finish, Greaves delivered a stunning 142 checkout, hitting treble 18, treble 18, and double 16, to claim the championship trophy and write a new chapter in darts history.
Greaves’ Dominant Path to the Final
Beau Greaves’ journey to the final was marked by a series of impressive victories against established players. Already a formidable talent with multiple Women’s Series titles and a World Youth Championship final appearance to her name, she proved her mettle throughout the day.
Her notable wins included:
- Defeating Jeffrey Sparidaans and Karel Sedláček in earlier rounds.
- A hard-fought 6-5 victory over former World Champion Rob Cross in the quarter-finals, where Greaves averaged 102.56 against Cross’s 105.96.
- A dominant 7-1 win against two-time World Champion Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, showcasing an exceptional 105 average.
Michael Smith’s Resilient Run
Michael Smith, despite battling with arthritis and searching for his consistent top form since his 2023 World Championship triumph, showed flashes of brilliance. He had previously won a Players Championship final in May 2024 against Ryan Joyce. His path to the final included:
- Overcoming Andrew Gilding in the quarter-finals.
- Defeating Kevin Doets in the semi-finals.
Smith demonstrated his fighting spirit by coming back from behind in multiple matches throughout the day, underlining his quality even when not at his peak.
Key Match Results:
Quarter-finals:
- Gary Anderson 6-3 Wessel Nijman
- Beau Greaves 6-5 Rob Cross
- Michael Smith 6-5 Andrew Gilding
- Kevin Doets 6-1 William O’Connor
Semi-finals:
- Beau Greaves 7-1 Gary Anderson
- Michael Smith 7-4 Kevin Doets
Other Standout Performances
The Players Championship 11 also saw several other players deliver strong performances:
- Kevin Doets was the best-performing Dutchman, reaching the semi-finals.
- In the first round, Jermaine Wattimena led a group of Dutch players including Christian Kist and Danny Noppert with averages over 100, recording an impressive 107.
- Other players making an immediate impact with averages above 105 in Round 1 included Justin Hood (England), William O’Connor (Ireland), Cristo Reyes (Spain), Jeffrey de Graaf (Dutch-Swedish), and Connor Scutt (England). O’Connor maintained his high performance through rounds 2, 3, and 4.
- Dutch players such as Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gian van Veen, Jermaine Wattimena, Jeffrey Sparidaans, Danny Noppert, and Dennie Olde Kalter were eliminated in the Last 32.
- Wessel Nijman stood out with a 113 average in one match, while Alexander Merkx impressed with a 104 average, before both were eventually defeated by a formidable Gary Anderson, who threw a perfect leg and a 110 average against Merkx.
Players Championship Order of Merit Update
Despite the historic win by Greaves, Wessel Nijman continues to lead both the overall Pro Tour Order of Merit (more than £50,000 ahead of Gerwyn Price) and the specific Players Championship Order of Merit (approximately £10,000 ahead of Chris Dobey). A Players Championship victory like Greaves’ is worth £15,000. The darts action continues with Players Championship 12 scheduled for Tuesday in Milton Keynes.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
