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News29 August 2026·5 min read

Beau Greaves Makes European Tour History, Falls 6-5 to Rob Cross in Budapest

Beau Greaves became the first woman in PDC history to play a match on the European Tour on Friday, taking 2018 World Champion Rob Cross the full distance before losing 6-5 in round one of the Hungarian Darts Trophy at the MVM Dome in Budapest.

6–5
Final score to Cross
1st
Woman to play an ET match
R1
Hungarian Darts Trophy

A Full-Distance Debut

Having become the first woman ever to qualify for a PDC European Tour event earlier this month, Greaves went one step further in Budapest by actually stepping onto the European Tour stage — and pushed a former world champion all the way. The best-of-11-legs contest went to the final possible leg, with Cross edging it 6-5to end Greaves’ run at the first hurdle.

It was a stern opening test: Cross won the 2018 PDC World Championship and has remained a regular top-16 fixture on the PDC Order of Merit since. That Greaves took the contest the distance against that calibre of opponent, on a stage no woman had reached before, underlined how far her level has risen in her first full year on tour.

Part of a Trailblazing 2026

The European Tour debut is the latest entry in a season that has already rewritten the record books for Greaves. In February, she became the first woman to hit a nine-darter on the PDC ProTour. In April, she beat three former world champions — including Cross himself and Gary Anderson — across her last three matches at Players Championship 11, before edging Michael Smith 8-7 in the final to become the first woman to win a PDC ranking title. She followed that with a third Women’s World Matchplay title in July, then qualified for two European Tour events in a single day in August, beating Tom Bissell 6-4 while averaging 103.03.

Friday’s defeat to Cross means that run ends without a maiden European Tour win, but it adds a fifth distinct piece of history to Greaves’ 2026 — she is now the first woman to have actually competed in a European Tour match, not just qualified for one.

What’s Next

Greaves has a second European Tour appearance already booked for the Czech Darts Open, held 4-6 September 2026 at PVA Expo Praha in Prague, where she will again face a full PDC Tour Card holder field in the best-of-11-legs format. Any prize money she earns from either event counts towards the main PDC Order of Merit, live on this site, rather than the Women’s Series she has dominated over the past year.

Track how Greaves, Cross and the rest of the tour stack up on the live PDC Order of Merit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Beau Greaves achieve at the Hungarian Darts Trophy?
She became the first woman in PDC history to play a match on the European Tour, having qualified for the event in August. She lost 6-5 to Rob Cross in round one.
Who did Beau Greaves play in her European Tour debut?
Rob Cross, the 2018 PDC World Champion, in round one of the Hungarian Darts Trophy at the MVM Dome in Budapest.
What was the final score?
Rob Cross won 6-5 in the best-of-11-legs format used for early rounds of PDC European Tour events, meaning the match went the full distance.
How did Greaves qualify for the Hungarian Darts Trophy?
She beat Tom Bissell 6-4, averaging 103.03, at a Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Leicester in August 2026 — the same day she also qualified for the Czech Darts Open, becoming the first woman to reach a PDC European Tour event.
Does Greaves have another European Tour event coming up?
Yes — the Czech Darts Open, held 4-6 September 2026 at PVA Expo Praha in Prague, where she also qualified.

Related

Beau Greaves — Profile
Live ranking, stats & career
Rob Cross — Profile
Live ranking, stats & career
Greaves Qualifies for the European Tour
How she booked her Budapest debut
How the PDC Order of Merit Works
How prize money builds the rankings