‘Fair play … some talent’: World darts champion Luke Littler beaten by female star

Reigning world champion Luke Littler has been beaten by Beau Greaves, the women’s World Matchplay champion, in one of the great cross-gender sporting shocks.

After Littler demolished world No.1 Luke Humphries 6-1 in the World Grand Prix final on Sunday, eyebrows were raised when the 18-year-old announced he would play in the World Youth Championship the following day.

As the current PDC world champion – Littler became the youngest ever winner in January – it seemed almost a formality that the teenager from Warrington, England would collect yet another title.

But having advanced to the semi-finals at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, Littler was, astonishingly, knocked out by Greaves.

It would be easy to explain Littler’s remarkable exit as a result of fatigue from his exertions the previous week. But in the deciding leg, Greaves, a 21-year-old from Doncaster, produced an 11-dart finish to send shockwaves through her sport and beyond.

Littler himself offered no excuses and was magnanimous in defeat on social media.

“I had two 10-dart legs, missed double 12 for a nine-darter and still couldn’t win,” he wrote. “Fair play to Beau Greaves, all the best in Minehead, some talent.”

This was a high-quality display, in any tournament, anywhere. Littler averaged 107.4 and landed two 10-dart finishes against an unflappable Greaves, even coming close to landing a nine-darter. At that stage, Littler appeared safe – but from 4-2 down, his opponent, who recorded a 105 average herself, fought back with stunning composure.

Greaves goes forward to the final at the Butlin’s resort in Minehead next month. There she will face Dutchman Gian van Veen, who is the defending champion and who was beaten in the 2023 final by Littler.

Greaves has proved herself with multiple successes against the males on the Professional Darts Corporation development tour and has been offered a card for the 2026 season.

Littler has previously stated that Greaves is “easily good enough” to play on the PDC circuit after almost being beaten by her in the UK Open three months ago, and Humphries concurred.

“Beau belongs in this environment,” he said. “She really did test me and she could have beaten me. On her day, she could beat any of us.” Littler will testify to that. The player nicknamed “Beau and Arrow” has just made darts yet more enticing.

Telegraph, London