Greaves targets Ally Pally glory after third Women's World Matchplay title

BEAU GREAVES would love to be the new ‘Queen of the Palace’ after landing her third Women’s World Matchplay crown.

The Doncaster thrower won a tense 6-5 final deciding thriller over Fallon Sherrock at the Winter Gardens yesterday.

It caps an incredible run of winning a PDC Tour Card and becoming the first woman to win a ProTour and hit a nine-darter plus qualify for a EuroTour event.

But now Greaves, 22, is eyeing up emulating Sherrock’s exploits at the 2020 World Championship and beating men on the big stage.

Sherrock famously beat Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic to become the first woman to win on the Ally Pally stage and has been dubbed ‘Queen of the Palace’ since.

Greaves admitted: “It’s tough really. I haven’t played as well as Fallon on the stage.

“My weakness I suppose is playing on the stage, I don’t know what it is. Maybe I don’t do it often enough.

“I can have good games and really poor games. It’s something I’ve got to get used to.

“I know I’m good enough on the floor but it’s not good if I qualify for events, get on the stage and I’m pony!

“I know I need to do better, so it’s not like I’m in denial.

“If I enjoy it I will play my best darts. But I want to win tournaments.

“I don’t go to the Ally Pally just to win a couple of games. I don’t go to lose. I’m not saying I’d win it. I’m not going to go there to win just one game, I want to win loads of games and go a long way.

“After I won the ProTour I wanted to win a EuroTour or a major. That would be fantastic. I’ve got a long way to go yet, I know that.

“I don’t think it’s impossible. I have the game. You have to believe in yourself, I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.”

Greaves picked up £15,000 for her third Matchplay win in Blackpool, delivering a superb 145 set-up to leave 56 and pin double 10 for glory.

She said: “I’m not one to celebrate but it was a relief in the end.

“Fallon is a great lass and an even better darts player. I knew I had to play well but to hit that last dart was an outpouring of relief.

“Just so happy to win. I knew playing the women is a bit different because I play the men now. Chuffed just to get the win. I was nervous but that kind of pressure is a privilege.”

Greaves began her title charge with a 5-1 victory over Kirsi Viinikainen before surviving a 5-4 battle against Gemma Hayter.

She continued: “I just love my life. Love playing darts.

“I can’t get enough of it. I'm addicted to it in a way and just love my life, and even supporting the women's game is a massive thing. My goal is to just play better.”

Words: Phil Lanning

Image: Taylor Lanning