Beau Greaves continued her record-breaking exploits on the PDC Women’s Series by celebrating back-to-back titles in Milton Keynes on Saturday.
Less than a week since she lifted the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title in Blackpool, Greaves capped a glorious spell by storming to victory in Events 13 & 14 at the Marshall Arena.
The teenage superstar defeated a resurgent Lisa Ashton in the Event 13 decider, before averaging almost 105 to deny Fallon Sherrock in a fitting finale to Saturday’s double-header.
Greaves’ latest double extends her remarkable winning run on the PDC Women’s Series to 26 matches, and she has now won 17 of the last 22 Women’s Series events, in a record dating back to last August.
“I feel really good, and I’m so happy to end the day with another two titles,” reflected Greaves, who has won nine Women’s Series events in 2023 alone.
“I had a little bit of fatigue towards the middle of the day, but I know what I have to do when I play certain games, and I managed to produce when it mattered.”
Greaves overcame Mikuru Suzuki 6-1 to win the Women’s World Matchplay, securing a place in the Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship in the process – but is refusing to rest on her laurels ahead of another PDC Women’s Series double-header on Sunday.
“I didn’t play my best in Blackpool last weekend but I came out the winner so I’m not going to complain,” she added. “I was really happy, but there is still room for improvement.
“I just want to concentrate on the Women’s Series and Ally Pally, and try to keep level-headed. I’ve had a brilliant day today, and I’m looking forward to starting afresh tomorrow.”
The 19-year-old opened Event 13 with whitewash wins over Deta Hedman and Tori Kewish, before coming through a high-quality last 16 tie against Noa-Lynn van Leuven with a three-figure average.
The Doncaster darter continued her fine form by toppling Sherrock with a 99 average, and a battling victory over Ireland’s Aoife McCormack set up her decisive showdown against Ashton.
Greaves stormed into a 3-0 lead with legs of 15, 17 and 15 darts, although Ashton responded superbly, following up a 110 finish with a 14-dart hold to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
However, Ashton paid the price for squandering four darts at double to level, as Greaves followed up a scrappy hold by converting a two-dart 68 checkout to clinch the £2,000 top prize.
Saturday’s Event 13 decider featured a clash between the two most successful players in Women’s Series history, as Ashton returned to form to secure a spot in her first final of the 2023 season.
The four-time Women’s World Champion averaged almost 101 to whitewash Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen in round one, which set the tone for an impressive campaign.
Ashton conceded just two legs in reaching the last eight, before averaging 92 to dispatch Aileen de Graaf and Rhian O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
Sherrock produced the performance of Event 13, averaging 107.36 in her last 16 whitewash of Almudena Fajardo Ayuso, before succumbing to Greaves in the quarter-finals.
The pair renewed their rivalry in the Event 14 showpiece, although Greaves again emerged victorious, averaging 104.96 to secure a tenth consecutive victory over the Milton Keynes trailblazer.
Sherrock drew first blood with a 72 kill, but an 11-dart leveller from Greaves sparked a sequence of five straight legs, and she landed two 180s and registered another 11-darter to complete a 5-1 rout.
The Women’s World Matchplay champion was nowhere near her blistering best for much of the event, yet she relinquished just six legs across the entire tournament.
Greaves’ march to glory included a whitewash win over Robyn Byrne – in a repeat of their semi-final tussle at the Winter Gardens – while she later demolished O’Sullivan in the last four.
Sherrock had fought back from 3-2 down to defeat Kirsty Hutchinson in an entertaining second-round tie, and she then swept aside Crissy Manley and Rebecca Hoyland to reach the last eight.
The 29-year-old ran out a 5-3 winner against Laura Turner in the quarter-finals, and overcame Ashton by the same scoreline in the last four, following up a 116 finish in leg six with an 11-darter to triumph.
This weekend’s action marks the start of the qualification race for the 2024 Betfred Women’s World Matchplay, with reigning champion Greaves already in pole position to secure a return to the Empress Ballroom.
Ashton and Sherrock are well placed in second and third respectively, while two-time Lakeside Championship runner-up O’Sullivan occupies fourth spot after making back-to-back semi-finals on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the top two players from the final PDC Women’s Series Order of Merit – aside from Greaves – will qualify to compete in the 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Suzuki retains second spot despite a disappointing afternoon at the Marshall Arena, although Sherrock has closed the gap in third after featuring in her fourth Women’s Series final of the year.
This weekend’s PDC Women’s Series action concludes with Events 15 and 16 on Sunday. Play will get underway from approximately 1000 BST, with live coverage streamed exclusively through PDCTV.
See full Event Draws & results in the Match Centre
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2023 PDC Women’s Series
Saturday July 29
Event 13, Milton Keynes
Quarter-Finals
Aoife McCormack 5-4 Priscilla Steenbergen
Beau Greaves 5-2 Fallon Sherrock
Lisa Ashton 5-2 Aileen de Graaf
Rhian O’Sullivan 5-2 Corrine Hammond
Semi-Finals
Beau Greaves 5-2 Aoife McCormack
Lisa Ashton 5-2 Rhian O’Sullivan
Final
Beau Greaves 5-2 Lisa Ashton
Event 14
Quarter-Finals
Rhian O’Sullivan 5-1 Katie Sheldon
Beau Greaves 5-2 Samantha Kirton
Lisa Ashton 5-1 Trina Gulliver
Fallon Sherrock 5-3 Laura Turner
Semi-Finals
Beau Greaves 5-1 Rhian O’Sullivan
Fallon Sherrock 5-3 Lisa Ashton
Final
Beau Greaves 5-1 Fallon Sherrock
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