Beau Greaves First Woman to Win PDC Ranking Title

Beau Greaves, a 22-year-old from Doncaster, became the first woman to win a PDC ranking title on Monday by defeating 2023 world champion Michael Smith in the final of Players Championship 11 in Milton Keynes.

Greaves overcame seven opponents in the ProTour event, capping her run with a dramatic victory over Smith in a first-to-eight-legs match decided in the final leg. Trailing after Smith scored 142 from 162 to leave double 10, Greaves responded with two treble 20s and double 11 for a 142 checkout. She averaged 96.49, recorded two 180s and converted eight of 10 doubles, including a 170 finish earlier against Gary Anderson.

Her path included narrow 6-4 wins over Aden Kirk and Thomas Lovely in the opening rounds, followed by a 6-2 defeat of Jeffrey Sparidaans and a close victory against Karel Sedlacek. Greaves then beat 2018 world champion Rob Cross in a final-leg decider before eliminating two-time Ally Pally winner Gary Anderson 7-1 in the semifinals. She sealed that match with a 170 checkout, known as the Big Fish, while averaging over 105 and winning seven straight legs. The result marked her third consecutive victory over a former world champion.