PDC World Darts Championship 2026: Beau Greaves loses to Daryl Gurney in deciding set of first-round match

Beau Greaves failed to become the second female player to win a match at the PDC World Championships, losing in the first round to 22nd seed Daryl Gurney at Alexandra Palace.

The 21-year-old from Doncaster was aiming to follow the lead of Fallon Sherrock, who made history by winning two matches in the 2020 tournament.

The first four sets were all against shooting; Gurney won twice, deciding to throw the legs forward and then retreat.

Greaves only needed to throw 37 darts in total to win three consecutive legs in the second set; With 128 shots on target, there was a 12-dart shooting break followed by a 10-dart shot to tie the match at one set.

In the decider, Gurney scored a stunning 144 to go one leg into victory, finishing shortly after Greaves narrowly missed 148 to take the match into extra time.

“For me she is the best female darts player on the planet,” said Gurney, a two-time major champion who won the World Cup with Northern Ireland in June.

He said on stage: “If there’s ever going to be a darts player who can win the World Championship or anything, that’s the player you want to look at. What a player.”

“Everyone said he was the favourite, but I showed my class and composure and crossed the finish line.”