Latest news with #DevelopmentTour
Daily Mirror
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Humphries sent Beau Greaves 'big time' message after major scare
Beau Greaves defends her Women's World Matchplay crown on Sunday following a ringing endorsement from world No. 1 Luke Humphries, who reckons she will grace the Premier League one day It would take a brave punter to bet against Beau Greaves at the Women's World Matchplay. While the likes of Fallon Sherrock and Lisa Ashton will have something to say, Beau 'n' Arrow is the overwhelming favourite to make it three Matchplay crowns in a row on Sunday. Greaves hasn't just been dominating fellow female players this year, she has been taking it to the men as well. After the disappointment of failing to land a PDC Tour card via Q-School in January, the Doncaster thrower has bounced back in devastating fashion. She tops the Women's Series by a whopping margin, leads the Development Tour and is fifth in the Challenge Tour, as well as making a smattering of appearances on the ProTour. Greaves also made her mark at the UK Open, pushing world No. 1 Luke Humphries all the way on the main stage at Butlin's Minehead. At 7-5 up, she looked capable of dumping out the 2024 world champion, who fought back to win 10-7. The standing ovation she received from the crowd and the respect she was afforded by Humphries were richly deserved for a player who is continually raising the bar in the women's game. Cool Hand was so impressed that he predicted it won't be long before she joins him and Luke Littler in the Premier League. "She belongs in big-time darts. She is obviously a massive advocate of the ladies' game," said Humphries. "The ladies' game has grown massively and it is because of her, but she belongs in this environment. She really did test me there and if we were in a Premier League game, she would have beat me. She just needs to give herself time. "Maybe in five years, I think she'll be in the Premier League and I think she is probably a top-64 player in the world right now, but I don't want to put pressure on her. "Let her keep doing what she's doing and the next few years she will find she has got the level that can match me, Luke [Littler] and Michael [van Gerwen], so she has a massive future ahead of her. "She is still very young but if you can test me - and I didn't play too bad there - it shows she has got the big-time darts and over the next few years I am sure I will be sharing the stage with her a lot." Humphries' plea for patience may fall on deaf ears amid the clamour for her to return to the PDC World Championship for the first time since the 2022/23 tournament, when she competed well before being eventually beaten by William O'Connor in the first round. Barred from competing in both the WDF Women's World Championship and the PDC Worlds, Greaves has shunned Alexandra Palace for the Lakeside in the last two years. Her 2025 plans are unclear, but the smart money is on her joining the expanded 128-player field at Ally Pally. Having previously expressed a reluctance to play against the men on a regular basis, Greaves is now feeling much more at ease. "I've been doing well on the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour, that's really brought my game on,' she said as she signed with Target Darts, who are also Littler's equipment suppliers. "Being able to play on the ProTour has been really good for me too. I've had a couple of wins on there. "I just want to keep progressing. I need to be a bit more consistent and just push myself more. Playing the better players does make me better." On the big decision facing her, she insists it will be her choice, despite potential outside influences. She said: 'Obviously, I have that choice to make between Lakeside and Ally Pally. I'm not sure yet. I think I'll know halfway through the year. 'I have a great support system with my family and my manager. Ultimately, I listen to what I want to do, what I want to play in. It's a massive opportunity, more on the Ally Pally side, but it's about what I'm comfortable with.' Top seed Greaves will face Finnish debutant Kirsi Viinikainen in the quarter-finals of the Women's Matchplay on Sunday afternoon.
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Emotional commentator left fearing for Luke Littler after ‘absolutely out of order' incident at World Cup of Darts
RUDY LANSSENS has claimed that Luke Littler may never return to Germany following the World Cup of Darts. Littler and England team-mate Advertisement 2 Luke Littler was booed by the German crowd at the World Cup of Darts Credit: Getty 2 It has been suggested that he will not go back to the country Credit: Getty The English received a Littler, 18, was on the end of boos from his very first dart which left him "completely rattled". Belgian darts legend Erik Clarys hit out at the crowd as it could have an "effect" on players as young as Littler. He said on VTM: "Just imagine being Advertisement READ MORE DARTS NEWS "He's still so young. Everywhere else, he's celebrated – but here in Germany, he's being booed from start to finish. "I've worked with kids his age on the Development Tour. "You can't imagine the effect something like this has on young players. "It gets into your head. All you want to do is go home. Far away." Advertisement Most read in Darts Breaking Latest JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS His comments were met by Lanssens, who claimed that Littler may not return to the country as the fans' behaviour was "out of order". He added: "This wouldn't happen in Belgium – at least not so obviously and unsportingly. Gerwyn Price runs rule over Luke Littler and Luke Humphries' England's World Cup of Darts flop "I wouldn't be surprised if Advertisement "This kind of behaviour is absolutely out of order. "The PDC has to step in – this is completely unacceptable." The England pair were Price insisted that they lacked "connection" and that they needed more "camaraderie off the stage". Advertisement Fans compared the shocking exit of the tournament to the
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
East Sussex teenager's dream to become the next Luke Littler
A promising young darts player from Lewes is hoping to break through to the the World's PDC level. Liam, who is studying Level 3 Sports at East Sussex College, has already won numerous trophies in competitions. The 16-year-old, who idolises the current world number six Dave Chisnall, started playing the sport when he was is aiming to follow in Luke Littler's footsteps, as the 18-year-old begins the defence of his Premier League title on Thursday. Liam's father saw potential in the youngster when he was 14, so signed him up to play for the Lewes Darts League at The Dorset pub in the teenager won the Lewes Darts League men's singles title for 2024/25, becoming the youngest player to clinch the trophy. This title has special place in his heart because the day before the final, he lost his grandfather to cancer. Liam also plays for the Sussex Youth Darts Team, which won the Under 18s category in 2024/25. His mother, Donna, said: "As parents we are extremely proud of Liam and what he has achieved in a short amount of time."Liam is very focused and dedicated with his darts. As parents we will support him on this wonderful journey and wish him lots of success." Liam also won the Eastbourne Darts Weekend Open youth competition in January, on his debut. Donna added: "Liam is taking part in the Development Tour, which will help him to progress to PDC Level which is the standard of Luke Littler and Rob Cross. Hopefully Liam will make it big one day."It's great to see younger players wanting to get involved with darts and away from their computers."Liam will be competing across the country, and in Germany, this year and his family is raising money to support his aspirations.
