Women's World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves REJECTS chance to play at World Championship as she claims female darts players cannot compete with the likes of Luke Littler

The women's World Matchplay winner has turned down the chance to play at the World Championship, claiming that female darts players cannot compete with the top male stars.

Beau Greaves beat Fallon Sherrock 6-3 in yesterday's final in Blackpool, earning her £10,000 in prize money.

The 20-year-old averaged 98.75 in an impressive display which followed dominant wins against Katie Sheldon and Mikuru Suzuki in the earlier stages.

But Greaves has said she will reject a spot at the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace this December, arguing that it is 'silly' to think she could take on the likes of Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, the BBC reports.

The darts star said: 'Men's and ladies darts should be separate. I don't think any lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win that. If you think that, you're being silly.

'I just don't think we will ever be good enough to play against the likes of Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen or Luke Littler.'

Greaves, who competed at last year's World Championship but lost in the first round to William O'Connor, was also offered the chance to play at the PDC's Grand Slam of Darts.

She added: 'When I go to the Grand Slam I don't look forward to it because I know I have got to play men. I don't fancy my chances at all - I am just realistic.'

The 20-year-old will instead focus on retaining her WDF Women's World Championship title but has said she would like more money to be pumped into the women's game.

In the men's event, Humphries claimed £200,000 in prize money after beating van Gerwen in the final.

Meanwhile, victory in last year's World Championship earned Humphries £500,000 whereas Greaves bagged just £25,000 for her titles in the women's version. 

The defeated Sherrock herself made waves in the men's field, winning two matches at Alexandra Palace in 2019.

The 'Queen of the Palace' has since become a crowd favourite with spectators even booing opponent Steve Beaton in 2021.

When Greaves took part in the men's event she became the youngest ever woman to take part and looked at home as she made history.

The 18-year-old did not looked fazed walking up to the stage and managed to win the opening leg with an impressive 120 checkout. 

However, opponent O'Connor used his experience to guide him home to a 3-0 win, as Greaves began to falter on key darts towards the business end of the game.