Milton Keynes, England — April 27, 2026 Beau Greaves first woman to win open PDC darts tournament
Beau Greaves became the first woman to win an open Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Tour event after defeating Michael Smith 8-7 in a dramatic final at the Players Championship in Milton Keynes.
A Historic Victory
The 22-year-old Brit secured her place in darts history with a nail-biting victory over former world champion Michael Smith, clinching the match with a stunning 142 checkout. Greaves’ triumph marks a watershed moment for women in the sport, breaking a long-standing barrier in professional darts.
Her path to the title included victories over two former world champions, Gary Anderson and Rob Cross, showcasing her ability to compete at the highest level. Just months earlier, in February, Greaves had already made headlines by throwing the first nine-dart finish by a woman on the PDC Tour.
Overcoming Doubts and Defying Expectations
Greaves’ win comes as a stark contrast to her own previous skepticism about women competing against top male players. She had once stated, Frauen könnten «niemals mit den Männern mithalten. Ich glaube einfach nicht, dass wir jemals gut genug sein werden, um gegen Spieler wie Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen und Luke Littler anzutreten» ("Women could 'never keep up with the men. I just don’t think we’ll ever be good enough to compete against players like Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Luke Littler'").