Beau Greaves, 22, from Doncaster, became the first woman to win a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) ranking title after defeating Michael Smith 8-7 in the Players Championship 11 final in Milton Keynes on Monday. She said she felt no pressure competing against men because she played so well.
Greaves, who is the first female to receive a PDC ranking, described the victory as a “really dramatic moment” and said being the first woman to attain the ranking was “brilliant”. She added: “It's the best feeling - I've only had my tour card for a couple of months and to win so quickly is amazing, I'm really proud of myself.”
Reflecting on the pressure of competing at a higher level, Greaves said: “There are different kinds of pressure, depending on who I am playing - but playing men, I don't feel it that much. I didn't feel any that day. It was free flowing, the darts were all going in and I felt fantastic.”
Greaves began her career aged 11 under the captaincy of her father Dave at the Little Plough pub in Doncaster city centre. She started playing as a child with her brother, who told their dad his sister “was actually really good” before she went on to compete alongside her whole family, including her grandfather. “When I was younger I wasn't a girly girl, I was a tomboy and I started playing with my brother. Those are happy memories, when I first started. It's been a real journey,” she said.
Her father Dave previously said his daughter showed an aptitude for the game from a young age and the family knew she had a career beckoning in the sport. “She's capable of beating anybody, without a doubt. Beau's the best lady player there's ever been. They all fear her, they all know how good she is and they don't want to draw her,” he said. Greaves added that her nickname “Beau and Arrow” was growing on her, and noted that darts with her face on are for sale and fans have started asking for her shirt and autograph. “It's so strange being so young and people wanting stuff from you. It's such a lucky life at 22,” she said.
