On Saturday, November 9th, the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts kicks off in Wolverhampton. For the second year in a row,
Beau Greaves will be putting her skills to the test at this PDC major, and former world champion
Dennis Priestley is greatly looking forward to her performance.
Greaves only narrowly missed qualifying for the knockout stage twelve months ago, after losing 5-4 to Nathan Aspinall in her final group match. The 20-year-old Englishwoman, reigning women's world champion with the WDF, is widely regarded as the best female darter on the planet at the moment.
For the overall victory at the Grand Slam of Darts, however, Priestley does not see her competing. "No. That's a big ask," Priestley admits in conversation with OLBG. "If the tournament average stays around 80, then yes, she can win it, but to produce five or six games with a near 100 average - I don't know if she's capable of doing that. She's definitely capable of causing major upsets."
Dennis Priestley was the first PDC world champion in 1994
"Fallon Sherrock set the standards and was a flag bearer for women's darts," Priestley continues. "She did what she did and it was fantastic. She seems like she relishes playing in the men's game but she hasn't been able to follow it up since. I can't see Beau being jealous of Fallon. She knows she's miles better than her.
In the past though, Greaves has been well documented about her dislike of playing the men. "I thought Greaves would've relished the opportunity to play in the men's game to see how good she can be - I think it's an ideal opportunity for her. Beau can probably win two or three women's games and not get as much money as she would from the Grand Slam. That's got to be a big factor in why she's decided to play,'' Priestley assesses. "A big reason for playing has to be the money because Beau has to finance her career. I'm not sure what sponsors she has but it's not cheap having to go abroad, paying for hotels and food when you get to these events. She's the only woman capable of giving the men a game because she's capable of a 100 average."
