13/10/2023

''It's a gamble" - Mark Webster doubts Beau Greaves choice to opt for Lakeside but admits 'every darts player is entitled to make their own decision'

Mark Webster thinks Beau Greaves took a gamble with her choice to participate in the Women's World Championship at Lakeside, preventing her from competing in the PDC's World Darts Championship.

In 2022, Greaves managed to become the women's world champion for the first time. She lost only one set during the entire tournament and recorded an average of 92.02 in the final against Kirsty Hutchinson.

These players are already certain to participate in the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts

Greaves is obviously qualified for the upcoming edition of the Women's World Championship, but her final victory at the Women's World Matchplay also qualified her for the tournament at Alexandra Palace.

However, the PDC decided that World Darts Championship participants would not be allowed to compete at Lakeside earlier in December. Players who had qualified for both tournaments had to choose where to participate. In Greaves' case, the choice fell on Lakeside.

This weekend sees conclusion of the 2023 PDC Women's Series: Who grabs the final women's spot for the World Darts Championship?

It seems to have been a short-term financial choice. The winner of the WDF Women's World Championship will collect 25,000 pounds, while Greaves would have had to reach the third round at the PDC Darts World Championship to earn that amount. Last year, the 19-year-old Englishwoman lost 3-0 in sets to William O'Connor in the first round on her debut at Ally Pally.

On the Love the Darts podcast, former Lakeside champion Mark Webster shed light on Greaves' choice. "Whether it is the right decision or not, I don't know. There's £25,000 up for grabs for winning [the WDF]. There's never a guarantee, but she's a big front-runner, isn't she?"

Greaves rejects PDC World Darts Championship and opts to compete at Lakeside

''It's a gamble, because if she comes unstuck in the WDF first round, she misses out on the £7,500 guaranteed [for going out in the first round at the World Darts Championship],'' Webster continued. ''It must have been hard for her to decline playing at the Ally Pally, because no game she plays at that other event will be played in that atmosphere - I think we all admit that - and she was close to taking a couple of sets off O'Connor last year."

Still, Webster respects Greaves' decision. ''But it's her decision. Every darts player is entitled to make their own decision and there's no sanctions. She can resume back on the [PDC] women's series next year,'' Webster said.