"This is a ladies World Championship, it's got that name on it and the PDC one doesn't, it's a men's worlds to me" - Beau Greaves has no regrets choosing Lakeside over Ally Pally

Defending champion Beau Greaves made an excellent start to the WDF World Championship at Lakeside. The 19-year-old Englishwoman was 2-0 too strong for Lorraine Hyde in her opening match.

Greaves looks back with satisfaction afterwards. "To be fair, Lorraine played really well. I knew she would you know, and I was expecting that when I come out. I just needed to sort of get in front early and pit my foot down but I really enjoyed the game," she tells Tungsten Tales.

Read also

Schedule Tuesday at Lakeside 2023 with Leonard Gates and defending champion Neil Duff

In addition to the WDF World Championship, Greaves was also qualified for the PDC World Championship. She ultimately opted for the former. "I just prefer playing at Lakeside, I probably always will. End of the day, this is a ladies World Championship, it's got that name on it and the PDC one doesn't, it's a men's worlds to me. But you know, that could change, in a few years I might think differently. Right now I just wanted to play in this and like I say, just try and defend my title."

Greaves is obviously the top favourite to succeed once again this week. "I think people just say horrible stuff about me and stuff about the whole thing last year. That it wasn't this, wasn't that but at the end of the day, I want to do well and that's what I'm here to do. Obviously some of these ladies are in good form, but that's up to me to try and beat them."

Read also

Tournament Centre WDF Lakeside World Championship 2023: Schedule, all results, TV Guide and prize money breakdown

World Matchplay

Earlier this year, Greaves won the PDC Women's World Matchplay by defeating Mikuru Suzuki 6-1 in the final. "Obviously the Matchplay for the ladies is good, but it's not a World Championship and you have to put it down to that at the end of the day. It is what it is, but we play all year round, spend so much money and so much time. A lot of these players have full-time jobs and stuff and they still end up getting here. It's absolutely great, it's amazing that the dedication they have and obviously we all have. This is a World Championship and all the other stuff isn't."

"People are quick to sort of compare us to the PDC and judge us, but at end the day, there is £25,000 on offer for the winner and that's the the biggest it ever has been. So why are people so like down on it all the time I don't get it," Greaves concludes.

Greaves will take on American Paula Murphy in the quarterfinals. At 67, she is the oldest lady ever to win a match at a World Championship.

Read also

''She wants to be a multiple world champion'' - Fallon Sherrock 'completely understands' Beau Greaves' decision not to play at World Darts Championships