Doncaster darts star Beau Greaves heading back to World Championships at Ally Pally

The 19-year-old from Doncaster, pictured, stormed to the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens at the weekend, hammering Japan’s Mikuru Suzuki 6-1 in the final and losing just four legs throughout the one-day event.

“I wasn't at my best, but I got over the line, so I'm really happy,” said Greaves of a success which sealed her qualification for November’s Grand Slam and the 2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship.

“I didn't think I was going to win this with the way I was playing. I'm so excited to be going to the Grand Slam and the World Championship, but I need to practise more.

"I need to get more comfortable on the big stage.”

The Winter Gardens is second only to London’s Alexandra Palace, which hosts the World Championship, in terms of darting stages.

“It means everything [to win this title],” added Greaves, who made her World Championship debut last December.

“I've got so much respect for all of the ladies that have played up here and I'm looking forward to another great year.”

Greaves kicked off her Matchplay campaign with a 4-0 victory over Dutch debutant Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who became the first trans woman to compete in a PDC televised event.

Greaves then recovered from a sluggish start to defeat Ireland’s Robyn Byrne 5-3 at the semi-final stage, hitting back from 3-2 down.

In the final Suzuki was punished for a miscount in the opening leg and the Yorkshirewoman capitalised to seize the early initiative, crashing in five perfect darts to break throw in leg two.

She fired in a second 180 en route to a 3-0 lead, before exploiting further misses from Suzuki in leg four to continue the procession.

Greaves missed the bull for a spectacular 161 checkout before moving to the cusp of victory and although Suzuki avoided the whitewash by surviving two match darts in leg six, the teenager secured the title with a clinical 74 combination on tops.