Darts champion snubs World Championships with threat to boycott tournament again

Darts champion snubs World Championships with threat to boycott tournament again

Watch now: Paul Coyte's sport round-up

Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 15/12/2023

- 14:09

Beau Greaves opted to skip this year's PDC World Darts Championships to defend her WDF title in Lakeside.

Teenage sensation Beau Greaves has revealed that she may snub the World Championships again next year after opting to defend her WDF title at Lakeside instead this season.

Greaves has emerged as one of the most talented women dart players in recent history and blew apart the PDC Women's Series this year.


She finished with a prize money pot nearly double that of second-placed Fallon Sherrock in the Order of Merit.

That earned her one of two available qualifying spots for the PDC World Darts Championships.

Beau Greaves opted to snub the World Darts Championship this year

Beau Greaves opted to snub the World Darts Championship this year

PA

But Greaves decided early on that she would forego the invitation with her heart set on defending her WDF Women's World Championship title at Lakeside.

The 19-year-old's decision paid off as she became a two-time champion after defeating Aileen de Graaf in the final.

And Greaves doesn't appear to have any regrets about snubbing the invite to play at Alexandra Palace this winter.

“It doesn't appeal to me to play against the men all the time,” she said.

“At the same time, that's where the money is to be made, so I have to think long-term about what will be better for me financially.

"At the moment I get more pleasure from playing matches against women.

"At the World Championships in 'Ally Pally' I have the idea that I would serve as a tournament filler.

"I know it isn't because I earned my place there and I had every right to be there. However, I feel more comfortable playing the WDF and the women.

"Playing against men is outside my comfort zone. But the more I do it, the better I hopefully become.”

The teenage sensation is clearly in no rush to play at Alexandra Palace as she has made no commitment to playing in the World Darts Championship next year either.

Beau Greaves played in last year's World Darts Championship

Beau Greaves played in last year's World Darts Championship

PA

“Money is money,” she said. “I don't think I'm desperate for money right now.

"I don't have to chase it and think 'where am I going to earn more?

'"I was just thinking about my career and how I would feel. If I lost my first match at Lakeside, I wouldn't even get close to the money I would get at Alexandra Palace.

"I made an informed decision. I hope to qualify again next year through the Women's Series, but I may end up in the same position again.

LATEST SPORT NEWS:

"It's all about weighing my options at that moment and making the choice.”

You may like