“She said, 'No, I was really annoyed.' For me, that’s fantastic” – Laura Turner lavishly praises Beau Greaves after witnessing end to unbeaten streak

In women’s darts the standard keeps rising at breakneck speed, and that was underlined again last weekend in a head-to-head between Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves. What began as yet another chapter in an impressive run ended in a match that once more showed how tight the top has become.

Greaves saw her 114-match winning streak in the PDC Women’s Series come to an end last weekend when she lost to Sherrock in the fifth event. Fellow player and analyst Laura Turner watched up close as the dynamic between the two evolved. “It’s a mixture, isn’t it?” she analysed on the Love The Darts podcast. “It took a 102 average to get past Beau Greaves. Fallon played exceptionally well.”

Those numbers speak volumes. While Greaves had long seemed untouchable in the Women’s Series, Sherrock showed that it takes an absolute top-drawer performance to beat her. An average over a hundred is impressive at any level, but in women’s darts it clearly signals the sport’s rapid growth.

Yet the focus afterwards was not only on the figures, but also on Greaves’s reaction. Turner noticed a striking shift in mentality. "I spoke to Beau afterwards. When she first came back to the Women’s Series, she went on a bit of a run, and when she eventually lost, she said she had been expecting it—'relieved' is probably the wrong word, but she knew it was coming."

That mindset contrasts sharply with her recent response. “So I asked her again this time how she felt,” Turner continued. “And she said, 'No, I was really annoyed.' For me, that’s fantastic."

According to Turner, that marks an important turning point in Greaves’s development. Where acceptance previously prevailed, it has now given way to pure hunger and frustration in defeat — traits that define elite athletes. “It shows a completely different mindset from Beau now,” she observed.

It says a lot about the bar Greaves has set for herself. She’s no longer the talented player springing surprises; she’s the benchmark others aim to match. And that makes every match against her a unique challenge.

Turner would know, as she has faced the young Englishwoman herself. "I love playing against her, but sometimes I get caught up just watching because she’s so, so good."

That admiration goes beyond women’s darts alone. “She’s not just good for women’s darts—she’s incredible in darts overall,” Turner stressed. That touches a nerve: Greaves is increasingly being judged on the same level as her male counterparts — and with good reason.

At the same time, that also makes her an even tougher opponent. “When you play her, you’ve just got to go out there, persevere, and try your best,” said Turner. It’s a battle where near-perfection is almost a requirement, and even that offers no guarantees.

Still, there are small wins to be had. “I was really pleased to come away with a couple of legs,” Turner said. “And Beau was really complimentary afterwards.” It typifies Greaves as a player: dominant on the board, but respectful off the oche.

Perhaps what makes her most special is her impact on opponents. “She can bring out the best in other players,” Turner explained. “Because you know you have to step it up.” It’s a quality only the very best possess — players who not only win, but also raise their opponents’ level.

Yet the reality remains harsh. “If you can embrace that side of it, then everyone has a chance,” Turner concluded. “But not many of us. It’s tough.”