Beau Greaves eases into Women's World Matchplay semi-finals as Mikuru Suzuki ends Noa-Lynn van Leuven's hopes

Beau Greaves and Mikuru Suzuki have become the first two players to book their place in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women's World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

With defending champion Beau Greaves opening up the 2024 event against Katie Sheldon, the Englishwoman immediately broke the throw in the opening leg with an 18-darter completed with a 100 checkout. Hitting her first 180 of the contest in leg 2, Greaves moved two clear with a 15-dart hold despite some faffing on the finishing, hitting a big 11 going for double 8.

Sheldon then got herself on the board in leg 3, via double 10. Both though, were perhaps a little nervous and playing slightly below their best as a result. After both players missed a slew of darts at double in the fourth leg, Greaves eventually pinned double 1 for a 27-dart hold of throw. Sealing the 4-1 win in the next leg, Greaves moved through to the semi-finals with a 75.46 average.

For the right to face Greaves in the semis, Mikuru Suzuki and Noa-Lynn van Leuven faced off next. After the Dutchwoman missed a pair of doubles for a first leg break, Suzuki held to move into an early lead. Hitting a 180 in each of the opening two legs, Van Leuven was scoring far heavier and as such, quickly levelled up in leg 2 with a 15-darter.

With Suzuki firing back with a 14-dart hold of her own in leg 3, both players were averaging above 90 in a quality start to the contest. Pinning double top at the first time of asking, Van Leuven levelled the scored once again in leg 4. Despite some pressure being applied by Van Leuven on the Suzuki throw in the next leg, the Japanese nailed double 9 to move just one away from the win. With the first break of throw of the contest, Suzuki sealed the deal on double 18 in the very next leg.