Dutch player Noa-Lynn van Leuven shocked Beau Greaves to win PDC Women’s Series Event 15 in Niedernhausen, Germany on Sunday.
Van Leuven put a halt to Greaves’ comeback to close out a dramatic 5-4 victory and secure a third Women’s Series title of 2024.
Van Leuven began her tournament with a 4-1 win over Anca Zijlstra, and then defeated Gemma Hayter, Aileen de Graaf, Robyn Byrne and Rhian O’Sullivan to reach the final.
She stormed into a 4-0 lead before nerves got the better of her, allowing ‘Beau ‘n’ Arrow’ to hit back and send the contest into a deciding-leg shootout.
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Speaking on the Love The Darts podcast, Glen Durrant says the PDPA are making sure that Noa-Lynn van Leuven is coping with the ‘horrible’ criticism she is receiving for competing as a trans player
But Van Leuven held her nerve when it mattered most to close out a famous victory in Germany.
Greaves had earlier averaged 100.48 to defeat Fallon Sherrock 4-1 to move through to the quarter-finals.
The Doncaster thrower returned to winning ways when she prevailed when the pair went head-to-head again in the final of Event 16.
The 20-year-old dispatched Talita Biagetti, Byrne and Rose Mort without conceding a leg, and she continued her serene progress with a 5-2 win against Paige Pauling in the quarter-finals.
The women’s World Matchplay champion then fended off a late rally from Kim Holden to claim a 5-3 win in the last four, before defeating Van Leuven by the same scoreline in a high-quality final.
There was nothing to separate the duo after six legs, but Greaves delivered the goods in the latter stages, following up a 72 finish with a 16-dart break to clinch her fifth Women’s Series title of the campaign.
“It feels really good. Losing to Noa in the first one was disappointing but she played really well. I feel relieved more than anything to be honest!” the 20-year-old said.
Greaves boasts a £6,400 lead at the top of the Women’s Series Order of Merit, while Van Leuven has climbed to second, establishing a £2,000 cushion over Sherrock in third position.
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Polly James and Glen Durrant discuss Beau Greaves’ comments saying that it would be ‘silly’ to think a female player could win the World Championship
The two top-ranked players from the final PDC Women’s Series Order of Merit – aside from Greaves – will qualify for the 2024/25 World Darts Championship, with the top-ranked player also assured of a place in November’s Grand Slam of Darts alongside Greaves.
The 2024 PDC Women’s Series continues next month, as Events 17-20 take place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan from September 7-8.
2024 PDC Women’s Series
Sunday August 11, H+ Hotel, Niedernhausen
Event 15
Quarter-Finals
Mikuru Suzuki 5-1 Paige Pauling
Beau Greaves 5-2 Lisa Ashton
Rhian O’Sullivan 5-2 Lorraine Hyde
Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-3 Robyn Byrne
Semi-Finals
Beau Greaves 5-1 Mikuru Suzuki
Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-1 Rhian O’Sullivan
Final
Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-4 Beau Greaves
Event 16
Quarter-Finals
Kim Holden 5-1 Fallon Sherrock
Beau Greaves 5-2 Paige Pauling
Lorraine Winstanley 5-4 Lisa Ashton
Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-4 Gemma Hayter
Semi-Finals
Beau Greaves 5-3 Kim Holden
Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-4 Lorraine Winstanley
Final
Beau Greaves 5-3 Noa-Lynn van Leuven
What’s next on Sky Sports?
Luke Humphries lifted the World Grand Prix title in Leicester last year
The 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix is next on the Sky Sports darting calendar.
The annual £600,000 tournament will take place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from October 7-13, as 32 of the world’s top stars compete for the coveted title which was won by Luke Humphries.
Humphries celebrated his maiden TV ranking title with victory over Gerwyn Price in last year’s tournament, and the world No 1 will return to defend his title later this year.
Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen is also set to star, with teenage superstar Luke Littler poised to make his double-start debut in the East Midlands.
In a change to last year’s format, Saturday’s semi-finals on October 12 will be contested over the best of nine sets, with the final set to be played over the best of 11 sets on Sunday, October 13.
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Here’s a look back at last year’s thrilling World Grand Prix final in Leicester
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