Greaves open to Ally Pally return after ‘stupid‘ decision to restrict players from competing in both the World Championships

Beau Greaves criticised the PDC for their’stupid’ decision to restrict players from competing in both the World Championship and Lakeside.

The 20-year-old, who is the name to beat in women’s darts and a two-time world champion, will compete for her third crown at the WDF World Championships later this month. Despite winning the PDC’s Women’s World Matchplay earlier this year and qualifying for Alexandra Palace, Greaves declined the opportunity to return to the legendary venue for the second consecutive year.

This was owing in part to her previously expressed dislike for playing against the top men, but also to the PDC’s rule prohibiting players from competing in both World Championships in the same year, which Greaves has labelled as’stupid’.

“It’s a shame they make you choose [between Lakeside and Ally Pally],” Greaves said after competing in the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

“I don’t understand that. I don’t know why they do. I think it’s stupid. I wouldn’t go on and win Ally Pally. I’d give it a good crack and see if I played well. But, ultimately, I want to be a ladies’ world champion, and we’ll see if I can do that again in December time.”

Greaves couldn’t make it past the Grand Slam group stages this time around, but she did notch another notable victory in the competition by dispatching Cameron Menzies with a stellar 5-1 win, boasting an average just above 95.

While fans were excited to see Greaves throw again at Alexandra Palace following her 3-0 loss against Willie O’Connor in 2022, and after declining to participate last year, she has chosen out once more due to the rule.

Though she has stepped back from playing in mixed competitions, the accomplished dartist acknowledged the need for growth, adding, “I need to start pushing myself to get better. I think I’ve gone a bit stale.

“I definitely want to look in 2025 at doing more stuff, trying to play better and be more consistent, as I’ve been very inconsistent this tournament [Grand Slam]. I know what needs to be done. I’m ready.

“Maybe I just know I need to start playing different people and start pushing myself. I’m very stubborn in what I decide to play in. It would benefit me if I were a bit more open to playing different stuff and that is definitely a possibility [playing against men more often].

“I just want to be better – a better dart player than I am now. I want to be more comfortable on the stage, it’s hard to get up there and just play there and then when you’re not used to playing, obviously all the top players.”