Players Championship 11 Round-up | Beau Greaves makes history! The first women to win PDC ranking title after defeating Michael Smith in scintillating final

Beau Greaves is a history maker! She defeats Michael Smith 8-7 in the final of Players Championship 11 to become the first women to win a PDC ranking title after a tremendous day of darts.

After a magnificent day of darts from Greaves, she continued that fine form into the final. She took out the 170 enroute to the title, ending in style with an incredibly clutch 142 checkout.

Greaves has become the first women to reach a Players Championship final. It is a third consecutive quarterfinal appearance on the floor, and this time she has been able to kick on and reach the climax, and in thrilling circumstances as well. She commenced the day with a 6-4 win over Aden Kirk ahead of a 6-4 triumph against Thomas Lovely.

She upped the level against Jeffrey Sparidaans in a 6-2 win. Karel Sedlacek was the next victim as Greaves came out on top 6-4. She was pushed to the limit by a back-to-form Rob Cross but prevailed in a last-leg decider to set up a showdown against Gary Anderson. The ‘Flying Scotsman’ had recorded 110 and 108 averages in his prior two matches, pinning a sensational nine-darter. Greaves shrugged this off as she won seven legs on the spin while averaging 105 to defeat the two-time world champion 7-1 and book her spot in the final.

For the first time since 2024, former world number one Smith can call himself a PDC finalist. He has put himself back within a shot of reaching the World Matchplay with a fine day of darts, despite not reaching his absolute best level. An unlikely finalist, he began the day averaging just 82 to defeat Marvon Kraft 6-5. The same scoreline against Sebastian Bialecki was a welcomed break for ‘Bully Boy.’

He completed a statement 6-4 win over Chris Dobey in the third round before finding a way past Joe Hunt, winning 6-4. Another last-leg decider was in store in the quarterfinals with Andrew Gilding’s day ending to the hands of the former world champion. He then won six legs on the spin to deny Doets a chance of winning a first PDC title. He triumphed 7-4 and set up a highly anticipated clash against the best women’s player on the planet.

Smith began the match the faster, taking out 90 on the bull to break the Greaves throw. He then backed it up with a tremendous 124 checkout on double 11, doubling his lead and giving Greaves something to think about.

The 22-year-old took out 121 on double 18 for a 12-darter to get back into this final. She then punished Smith for not getting to a double from 110, taking out 64 in three darts. She then made it three in a row to take the lead while averaging over 102. She had the momentum with her and looked to use it to good effect.

She pinned tops for a consecutive 13-darter. The quality was undeniable, and Smith was unable to keep up in this period. Greaves was afforded six darts at 170. She showed real composure after going inside on double 15, pinning double six with the 2023 world champion lurking.

Being a former world champion, he has a lot of quality on the oche. That showed with a 157 checkout to close the gap to a brace of legs. Greaves responded in the most brutal fashion – reeling in the big fish! She opted to go for the biggest checkout in the sport and nailed it expertly. Smith held his throw again on double 10 but was in desperate need of a break.

He sealed it in the next leg in style, taking out 115 on double 18 to get the match back on throw. The two-time major champion then held his throw to force a best-of-three finale to what was a thrilling final.

Smith blew a golden chance to take the lead. He missed tops after Greaves also missed that target. She was fortunate to return but cleaned up brilliantly as she moved within one of the title. Smith forced the decider and left double 10 for the match. He would not get a dart at the target as Greaves took out 142 on double 11 to win the title. She was emotional after the match as the seismic scale of what she had achieved had dawned on her. A trailblazer for women's darts who was now winning on the big stage against the best players in the world.

A number of big names did not bother making the trip to Milton Keynes. This included Luke Littler who is yet to throw a dart in a Players Championship event this year. Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall also skipped this event.

Aside from them, numerous top darters were involved. None more notable than world number two Luke Humphries. The signs were looking good until Max Hopp edged him 6-5 in the third round.

There were first round exits in store for fellow Premier League regulars Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock in huge upsets. Similar to Humphries, Gian van Veen and James Wade could only muster up a third round showing with two-time floor champion in 2026 Dobey also exiting at that stage.

2018 world champion Cross boosted his hopes of qualifying for the Matchplay after reaching the quarterfinal stage with the inform Wessel Nijman among the casualties at that stage. In the race for Blackpool, Gilding’s last-eight run propelled him up to 15th in the Pro Tour Order of Merit with Damon Heta on the cups in 16th.