"Even to get seven darts into it on that stage is an achievement" - Beau Greaves eases into QFs at Lakeside but Kirsi Viinikainen almost steals show with nine-darter
WDF
Beau Greaves' hopes of a third successive Women's World Championship title are still very much alive after a confident and composed 2-0 victory over Kirsi Viinikainen Tuesday night at the Lakeside.
The expected winner throughout, Greaves averaged 82.89 in the end, good enough for the highest average seen at the Women's World Championship so far this year. "I mean I won and obviously that's the main thing, but I didn't play great. My darts were dropping low and stuff," Greaves assessed self-critically afterwards in a post-match interview. "There's nothing worse than coming back here and trying to defend your title, so it's difficult up there to get your first game and especially playing Kirsi as well, that's such a difficult first game. But I'm just pleased she missed a few of doubles and I'm happy to come out the winner."
One moment of magic almost threatened to make the contest a whole lot more memorable though. In the second set, as Viinikainen attempted to mount a comeback, she went seven darts into a nine-darter, only wiring the treble 19 on the 141. "She's one of them players that's really underrated. I knew coming out tonight I'd have to play well," Greaves says warmly. "I said to her: that would have been brilliant! But to be fair, even to get seven darts into it on that stage is an achievement in itself. I just hope she takes the positives from that and obviously just builds on it a little bit, because she's so good. I don't think she knows how good she is."
Greaves has been the dominant force in women's darts over recent years. Being expected to win every tournament before a dart is even thrown can bring a different kind of pressure though. "Obviously, I played the Grand Slam and I ended up winning a game. I played okay, but I think it most ladies know what I can play and what I can do, but that doesn't mean I'm unbeatable. I do get beat a lot on the women's series," Greaves assesses. "I do lose games and I think that's what makes me vulnerable in a way. It can happen at any time, you don't know when like players like Kirsi can have them games that just shock you."
In the quarter-finals of the 2024 WDF Women's World Championship, Greaves faces off against Jitka Cisarova.
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- £500 for 3 games seems so steep especially for those that lost 5-0 each time. I used to think Conan Whitehead was going to be a great player and was improving through the BDO but has just fizzled outrichieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Safely through to the final stage an closing in on that card.richieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- It is shocking and unbelievable that 2 Hotty who was always such a decent player, 2 time World Champion and won the Grand Slam when it meant something. He really should have joined the PDC earlier. He has just disappeared off the radar. Such a shame when one of your favourite players just dissappears. I guess he is concentrating on the carpentry. I made a sign at Lakeside which must have been the biggest ever. It said we're potty for 2 Hotty, each word was on its own flip chart sheet of paper and gaffer taped together. Maybe Scotty should return to the WDF or whatever it is now.richieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- What the hell has happened to Scott Waites, didn’t even win a point.Mysstree08-01-2025
- One mistake is often followed by another, and the PDC have compounded their unimaginative PL picks with a doppelganger cast for the World Series. What an opportunity missed. It hurts the overburdened eight, it hurts the overlooked, it hurts the fans. Who gains? No one I can think of, not even the PDC shareholders.
UndartedWaters08-01-2025 - No, I wasn't expecting Heta to be in it either having won nothing of any significance. Although he is charismatic and has personality unlike the boring and dull as dishwater Dobey. It is quite pathetic and desperate the way Bunting and Arsepinall pander to the crowd to dance to their walk on music, that has worked though. I would like to see more players involved on a weekly basis similar to the Modus Super Series. A knockout tournament with 16 winners from each week. The Premier league is too boring with the same players. Plus it would eliminate all the whining and booing from unselected players.richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- Why is World Champion Richie Burnett not highlighted in bold font nor 2 time World Champion Scotty 2 Hotty. COME ON RICHIE BURNETT AND SCOTTY 2 HOTTY Although where the hell has 2 HOTTY been the past year!richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- It's not tennis, snooker or golf, nobody mentioned Fallon,great as she is. Beau beats her week in,week out. But she isn't interested. If you want to include crowd pleasers,get Les Wallace back!!! He was a world champion,and wore a kilt!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I'm glad wright and van Ben bergh were overlooked. Too much dancing,not enough darting. Bunting is always quality,as for price,he's a crowd pleaser(!!?) too. Aspinall has had his problems,but it's nice to see him back,he's a decent chap. Dobey is a top player,big hitter,so I won't complain. Cross will finish bottom,much as I like him,he seems to be off lately. I'm glad they didn't pick a Belgian just for the audience. But I don't agree with the tournament or format,so I guess it's immaterial to me. They might as well turn up at a random pub and play for the beers!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I think the PDC's choice is too conservative. EIther or both of Damon Heta and Mike de Dekker should have been in, at the expense of Aspinall and possibly Price. I guess the PDC's reasoning is that they do not want too much turnover from year to year, and so having already rejected Smith and Wright, they have kept Price and Aspinall, but I guess those two are "on probation".UndartedWaters06-01-2025