Beau Greaves has etched her name into the history books by becoming the first woman ever to win a PDC ranking title, triumphing at Players Championship 11 on Monday. The 22-year-old Englishwoman defeated three former world champions en route to the title — Rob Cross (6-5), Gary Anderson (7-1), and Michael Smith (8-7 in the final) — posting a tournament average of 98.13. Her victory has already guaranteed her a place at the Players Championship Finals and the PDC World Darts Championship, and is likely to secure qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts.
Greaves’ run included a stunning 142 checkout in the deciding leg of the final, with her opponent waiting on his favourite double. She averaged over 105 against Anderson and 102.56 against Cross. Despite her historic achievement, Greaves has yet to qualify for a European Tour event in her debut year, having missed out on the first eight of fifteen events. The question now is whether a major title is imminent for the ‘Beau ‘n Arrow’, with many pundits believing the sky is the limit.
Wessel Nijman continued his dominant form by winning Players Championship 12 on Tuesday, his fourth floor title of the year and fifth ProTour title overall (including one European Tour victory) after just 17 of 49 ProTour events. The 25-year-old Dutchman now sits comfortably clear at the top of both the ProTour rankings and the Players Championship Order of Merit. Nijman’s rise has been impossible to ignore, and he will look to translate his floor form onto the televised stage at the upcoming World Matchplay.
Michael Smith showed encouraging signs by reaching the final of Players Championship 11, losing 8-7 to Greaves. The 2023 world champion has struggled with injuries in recent years and currently hovers around the world’s top 32, but his run has put him back in the race for qualification to the World Grand Prix and given him outside hopes of making the World Matchplay. Smith’s ability to grind out tight matches, despite not being at his vintage best, was seen as a promising step forward.
Other notable performances included Kevin Doets, who reached the semi-finals on two consecutive days and sits third on the Players Championship Order of Merit, and Jermaine Wattimena, who showed signs of his 2024 European Championship final form. Gary Anderson, despite not winning a title, averaged over 105 on four separate occasions, proving he remains a capable player at the elite level. Meanwhile, Max Hopp continued his impressive comeback, reaching the last 16 on Monday and the quarter-finals on Tuesday, climbing into the Top 20 of the Players Championship Order of Merit and establishing himself as Germany’s number one in that ranking.
