Daryl Gurney survived a nail-biting first-round encounter at the PDC World Darts Championship, defeating Beau Greaves 3-2 in a deciding set at Alexandra Palace. The 21-year-old Doncaster star narrowly missed making history as the second female player to win a match at the PDC World Championship, following in the footsteps of Fallon Sherrock, who won two matches at the 2020 tournament.

Deciding Set Drama

The match was a tightly contested affair, with the first four sets all going against the throw. Gurney twice clinched deciding legs to take the lead, only for Greaves to fight back.

Greaves showcased her skill in the second set, needing just 37 darts to win three consecutive legs, including a 128 checkout on the bullseye and a 10-dart leg to level the match at 1-1.

In the deciding fifth set, Gurney hit a 144 checkout to move within one leg of victory and eventually sealed the 3-2 win after Greaves narrowly missed a 148 finish.

Gurney Praises Greaves

Gurney, a two-time major champion and World Cup winner with Northern Ireland, lauded Greaves’ talent:

“For me, she is the best female darts player on the planet. If there’s going to be a darts player that can win the World Championship or any majors, that’s the player you want to look to. What a player.”

He added:

“Everybody said she was favourite going into the game, but I showed my class and composure and got over the finish line. Next year, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. She’s going to win some PDC tournaments.”

Beau Greaves’ Rising Career

Greaves entered the 2025 PDC World Championship off a stellar year. She topped the PDC Women’s Series, extended an 86-match winning streak, reached the World Youth Championship final, and earned a PDC tour card via the Development Tour.

Her previous World Championship appearance was in 2022, when she lost 3-0 to William O’Connor. In the following two years, she focused on the WDF Women’s World Championship, winning the title on both occasions.

Other First-Round Highlights

• Nathan Aspinall, former World Matchplay champion, overcame Lourence Ilagan 3-1, finishing with a 170 checkout. He will face Leonard Gates in round two.
• Josh Rock, Northern Ireland’s rising star and Gurney’s World Cup teammate, defeated Gemma Hayter 3-1 despite poor finishing in the third set. He will meet Australian Joe Comito next.
• Other first-round winners included Kevin Doets, Ryan Meikle, William O’Connor, and Keane Barry.

The second round promises high-stakes encounters, with notable players such as Michael Smith, Stephen Bunting, and Chris Dobey looking to secure spots in the last 32.

Looking Ahead

With the PDC World Championship progressing into the second round, fans can expect more drama, high-quality checkouts, and potential historic performances. Greaves, despite her narrow loss, has firmly established herself as one of the most promising young talents in darts, while Gurney continues his pursuit of a deep run in the tournament.