Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves REJECTS chance to play at World Championship as she claims female darts players cannot compete with the likes of Luke Littler
The women’s World Matchplay winner has turned down the chance to play in the world championship, claiming female darts players cannot compete with the top male players.
Beau Greaves defeated Fallon Sherrock 6-3 in yesterday’s final in Blackpool to win £10,000 in prize money.
The 20-year-old posted an impressive average score of 98.75 after convincing victories over Katie Sheldon and Mikuru Suzuki in the earlier stages.
But Greaves has said she will turn down a place at the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace in December, saying she thinks it is “silly” to think she could compete against the likes of Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, the BBC defeated.
The darts star said: ‘Men’s and women’s darts should be separate. I don’t think a lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win it. If you think that, you’re stupid.
Beau Greaves pictured holding up the Women’s World Matchplay trophy in Blackpool yesterday. She has since turned down the chance to play in the World Championship
The 20-year-old claimed it was ‘stupid’ to think she could compete against the likes of Luke Littler (pictured, at Silverstone on July 4)
Greaves defeated Fallon Sherrock (pictured, yesterday at the Women’s World Matchplay event) in the final
‘I just don’t think we’ll ever be good enough to play against the likes of Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen or Luke Littler.’
Greaves, who played in last year’s World Championship but lost in the first round to William O’Connor, was also given the chance to play in the PDC’s Grand Slam of Darts.
She added: ‘When I go to the Grand Slam, I don’t look forward to it because I know I’m playing against men. I don’t rate my chances at all – I’m just realistic.’
The 20-year-old instead wants to focus on retaining her WDF Women’s World Championship title, but has indicated she is keen to inject more money into women’s football.
In the men’s event, Humphries won £200,000 in prize money after beating van Gerwen in the final.
Last year’s World Championship victory earned Humphries £500,000, while Greaves earned just £25,000 for her titles in the women’s version.
The defeated Sherrock caused a stir in the men’s side by winning two games at Alexandra Palace in 2019.
The ‘Queen of the Palace’ has become a crowd favourite. In 2021, his opponent Steve Beaton was even booed by spectators.
Luke Humphries pictured yesterday with the men’s World Matchplay trophy
He won £200,000 in prize money after beating van Gerwen (pictured) in the final
Humphries pictured holding up the World Championship trophy at Alexandra Palace this year. Greaves turned down an offer to play in this year’s men’s event at the iconic venue
When Greaves entered the men’s event, she became the youngest woman ever to compete, and she was eager to make history.
The 18-year-old looked unfazed as he stepped onto the podium and went on to win the opening event with an impressive 120 metres.
However, opponent O’Connor used his experience to guide him to a 3-0 victory as Greaves’s ability to deal with key darts grew worse towards the end of the match.