Recently, after Beau Greaves won her second consecutive Women’s World Matchplay title, she was interviewed and said some things that were both insightful and challenging.
Despite being fairly dominant for the ladies’ game, she is a terrific player, gender aside.
At 20 years old, she has not only won what there is to win with respect to ladies’ opportunities, she has also played the men when those opportunities have arisen.
“I want more for the ladies’ game. I think we deserve a separate part of it (darts),” she said.
I think everyone can agree with this. It is deserved. The opportunities will grow as will the money, when there is more of a show to be seen. The show is, and its viewership will always be, dictated by the level of play and some bluster. The ladies’ game currently does not have the storylines, the antagonists, or colourful mohawk hairstyles.
I have no doubt that once there are enough women playing at a high level, we will see it get a little chippy. It is the primal nature and ego of competitive players to peacock a bit as if to say, ‘Look at me’. In the longview, the ladies’ game is still getting its footing with having a strong product.
“I don’t think any lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win that. I think you are literally just being silly if you think that is possible.”, said Greaves.
This is where I think some of her youthful naiveté showed before having enough of life’s experiential wisdom. We all play our small parts on the universal continuum of our greater darting community. Hindsight is always 20/20, but crystal clear foresight is rare. Allow me to take you back to the future.
They might have thought a woman would never beat a man in a televised major tournament until Deta Hedman did it against Aaron Turner in the UK Open in 2005. (Greaves was one year old).
They might have thought that women would never play at the Ally Pally, let alone compete until Fallon Sherrock beat Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljović in 2019. (Greaves was 15 years old and on the darting radar in the UK).
They might have thought that a woman would never earn a PDC Tour Card until Lisa Ashton did so in 2020. (By 16, Greaves had won multiple regional tournaments).
We’ll never see a lady throw a long format average in the high 90s. Greaves averaged 98.75 in the 6-3 final against Sherrock in the 2024 Women’s World MatchPlay. (And she is no longer a parenthetical footnote).
Anyone could have been “being silly” for having such thoughts, that is until all of these silly things happened.
It is hard for her to conceive of her own stature in the modern day game, let alone her place in darting history (20-year-olds seldom have such perspective). In order for any great darts players to stay at the top of their game, they MUSTN’T live in the past or the future.
Being ever-present in the moment of every dart is crucial. Right now there are 10-year-old girls watching her every dart and hanging on her every word.
She very well may be one of the giants that future generations of women players stand on the shoulders of to better the game. Does Beau Greaves do what she does without the female titans that came before her?
It seemed unfortunate that the interview had a bit of a dour tone based on the questioning, but she was not unfairly cornered. Her win at the Matchplay gained her entry to the Grand Slam.
It was inevitable that she would be asked about how exciting that might be to play against the top men. While it is not something that she looks forward to, there may be other women who would enjoy that experience. I know there are men that would give their left arm to gain the experience of playing the best around.
In taking it a step further, one could dig, and surmise, that her comments were a bit a of subterfuge for her fellow female competitors; what better way for the highest ranked in the game to try to gain a mental edge?
Maybe she found the delicate way to add the edginess the ladies’ game needs. She is, after all competing on the Development Tour. It has never been beneath Taylor or Van Gerwen to use the media to tell opponents politely what they couldn’t do. But, I digress to her youthful innocence, her calm, her gentle demeanour that tells me she is being sincere, however shortsighted her comments might be.
Professional darts players, men and women alike, are purveyors of hope. They compete at the highest level in an everyman’s and woman’s game. They allow pub players and junior players to dream; to aspire for greatness.
I think we should all be glad that no one told Beau that she was being silly for playing darts. When I show my own 10-year-old daughter clips of a great darts player, I show her clips of Beau Greaves. I tell her how she has fought valiantly to overcome the yips. I show her matches of Beau beating men and women.
As a coach, I tell her, if there is a ladies’ player whose form she should emulate, it is hers. I am grateful for female icons in the game, so that when she watches, and sees someone of the same gender, her inner monologue says, “I can do that.”
While it is plainer to see the slow evolution and growth of the ladies’ game, I can see the future; as does the JDC. None of the boys and girls are “being silly”.
For questions and coaching inquiries please reach out at DaxMunna@gmail.com
Respectfully,
Dax
Dr. Manhattan
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