Greaves edged out by Cross in dramatic European Tour opener
Beau Greaves lost 6-5 to Rob Cross in the first round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, her European Tour debut. The 22-year-old led 5-4 but missed key chances in the deciding leg. She had previously become the first woman to win a PDC ranking title in April.
Greaves’s defeat came despite her holding a 5-4 lead in the best-of-11 contest, with the deciding leg slipping away after she missed two opportunities while needing 70 to close out the match. Her qualification for this event followed a victory over Tom Bissell last month, marking the first time a woman had earned a spot on the PDC European Tour. Earlier in February, she had already made history as the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the ProTour. The tournament continues with Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen entering in the second round, while Luke Littler is absent.
This narrow loss may resonate beyond darts fans, as Greaves’s repeated breakthroughs—first a ranking title, then a European Tour appearance—could inspire more women and girls to pursue competitive darts. Her near-win against a former world champion suggests the gap in elite-level performance is closing, potentially encouraging governing bodies to expand women’s pathways. However, one match does not guarantee systemic change, and sustained results will be needed to shift perceptions and opportunities.