Beau Greaves denied staggering six-year first with agonising World Darts Championship defeat

Beau Greaves was denied the chance to become the first woman to win at the World Darts Championship since 2019 in agonising fashion.

The 21-year-old star was beaten by World No.22 Daryl Gurney in a five-set thriller at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.

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Greaves had the fans inside Ally Pally as she attempted to make history, but it wasn’t to be as Gurney stepped up under pressure.

The last female player to win a match in the tournament was Fallon Sherrock in 2019, when she beat Ted Evetts.

And the dominant women’s champion was on the brink of emulating that, leading 1-0 in the tense deciding set.

However, she was unable to get over the line and after the game was complete, Gurney bowed in front of her in respect.

Speaking post-match, the Northern Irishman, who will now take on Callan Rydz in the second round, piled praise on the darts sensation.

He said: “For me, she’s the best women’s darts player on the planet. What a dart player, honestly, what a dart player.

“I said to Beau at the end, ‘The only thing that separated us was the 144.’

“All this crowd in here should respect Beau Greaves because next year she will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Gurney referenced the 144, which did seem to decide the game, as he hit the huge checkout in the final leg.

He went on to miss two match darts, before Greaves missed one herself, but he returned to win the match with a double eight.

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Agonisingly close

Greaves bows out of the World Darts Championship in the first round despite putting in an incredible performance.

She hit more 180s than Gurney and won more legs than her opponent, as well as having a better doubles percentage.

But it wasn’t enough to get the job done and progress.

Gurney won the opening set and the third, before Greaves stormed to a 3-0 win in the fourth to set up a tense finish.

She began the deciding set in the best way possible with her sixth and seventh 180 of the match, but was then pegged back.

Gurney took out 80 to level the set at 1-1, before superbly checking out a 144 to put him in position to secure victory.

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He then threw for the match but missed the chance – luckily though, he was able to get another chance and took it.

The World No.22 will now take on Rydz in the second round on Tuesday, December 23 at 12:30pm.

Rydz beat Patrik Kovacs 3-0 on Thursday evening to go through.

Gurney reacts with talkSPORT

Speaking to talkSPORT after his win over Greaves, Gurney said: “That 144 was probably the best finish of the World Championships so far, I think!

“I thought if I miss, the crowd will get more involved, so just get over the finish line and out of this venue.

He continued: “I put myself under more pressure than people expected, Beau was favourite to win that game and I was second.

“But I’m 22nd in the PDC world rankings, I’m not a slouch. I’ve won the World Cup, I hit the doubles…”

Gurney added: “Very glad to get over this game, Beau Greaves, class player, for me, she will win a PDC tournament next year.

“She could win a European or pro tour, 100 per cent, she will win one, she’s so good.

“I put her in the echelons of Luke Littler. I think she just needs to be in the PDC, mentally stronger, better and I think she will be a force to be reckoned with next year.

“She played well tonight, but next year she’ll be even better when she’s got a year on the pro tour.”