Brilliant Beau Greaves downs Littler to reach world youth final

Young darts sensation Beau Greaves defeated fellow prodigy Luke Littler to progress to the final of the PDC World Youth Championship on Monday.

Defying a huge 107.4 average from her opponent, the 21-year-old conjured an eleven-dart break of throw in the deciding leg to become the first-ever woman to reach the final of this competition.

Littler, who was fresh from lifting his maiden World Grand Prix title the night before, played his usual impressive game, landing a pair of ten-darters and missing double twelve for a nine-darter in the fourth leg of the match. But even he was unable to deny the three-time WDF women’s world champion.

Finishing as the runner-up in this season’s Development Tour rankings, Greaves has qualified for a Pro Tour card for the first time in her career

Greaves’ landmark win sets up a meeting with defending champion Gian Van Veen at Minehead in November, but it’s clear that her fledgling career promises to yield a whole lot more than just youth and female-only titles.

Having dominated this season’s Women’s Series, she has already sealed her place at the PDC World Darts Championship at the end of the calendar year. A win in the first round at Alexandra Palace would see Greaves become just the second woman to ever beat a man on the biggest stage of them all, after Fallon Sherrock made history in 2019.

Also finishing as the runner-up in this season’s Development Tour rankings, Greaves has qualified for a Pro Tour card for the first time in her career. If accepted, the tour card would entitle her to participate in every Players Championship for the next two years.

But the decision to accept her card is a big one. Doing so would bar her from simultaneously competing on the women’s circuit for contractual reasons, a ruling which Greaves has branded “stupid”.

Despite these past hesitations, Greaves’ male competitors were quick to publicise their encouragement for her

The prize money offered by the Pro Tour is tempting, but Greaves has previously questioned her ability to compete with the likes of Littler on a regular enough basis.

“Men’s and ladies darts should be separate. I don’t think any lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win that. If you think that, you’re being silly,” she said in 2024.

Despite these past hesitations, Greaves’ male competitors were quick to publicise their encouragement for her after Monday’s historic win.

“I think she’s an amazing player and she deserves it,” said world number one Luke Humphries during last week’s World Grand Prix. “I predict that she’ll flourish playing in it [the Pro Tour].”

Even Littler, whose defeat denied him the chance to claim his second world youth title, was keen to congratulate his opponent.

“I had two ten-dart legs, missed double twelve for a nine and still couldn’t win,” the 18-year-old said. “Fair play to Beau Greaves, all the best in Minehead, some talent.”

“You best not be taking that tour card!”