Lisa Ashton, Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock top the bill at the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay

Lisa Ashton has her eyes set on retaining her Betfred Women’s World Matchplay title at the Winter Gardens on Sunday afternoon.

The fifth staging of the £40,000 event features the top eight players on the rolling 12-month PDC Women’s Series rankings, with Beau Greaves set to headline.

However, Ashton is targeting back-to-back Blackpool titles following her dramatic deciding-leg victory over Fallon Sherrock in last year’s showpiece.

The four-time Lakeside women’s champion kicks off her title defence against Welsh number one Rhian O’Sullivan, who will make her third Women’s World Matchplay appearance.

“I was absolutely over the moon to win this title last year,” insisted Ashton, who also dumped out Greaves en route to glory.

“It’s always a dream for me to play here in Blackpool, but to win it in my hometown – it was absolutely brilliant.

“This was definitely one of my biggest achievements. It’s a PDC title, it’s one I always wanted to win and I finally did it!”

Despite Ashton’s success in 2025, top seed Greaves is the overwhelming favourite to lift a third Women’s World Matchplay crown.

It follows an unprecedented 12-month spell which saw the 22-year-old enjoy a staggering 114-match winning run on the PDC Women’s Series circuit from April 2025 to March 2026.

She claimed 17 consecutive titles in the process, as well as performing magnificently in her first year as a Tour Card Holder, becoming the first woman to win a PDC ranking title at Players Championship 11 in April.

“Winning a ProTour so quickly was a shock to me,” conceded the 2023 and 2024 Blackpool champion, who begins her title challenge against Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen.

“I know I can play darts but the quality on tour is unreal, so I thought I’d need more time to settle in.

“It’s amazing for me to play players that I’ve always watched growing up. I love darts, I love playing darts, so it’s all a bonus for me.

“This is a tournament we all look forward to. It is great for the women’s game, and I’m really excited to be back.”

Viinikainen – who also faced Greaves in the quarter-finals last year - confirmed her qualification in last-gasp fashion, with a run to May’s Event 11 showpiece proving decisive in sealing her return.

Sherrock, who won the first Women’s World Matchplay in 2022, meets Deta Hedman in a battle between darting royalty.

Sherrock was awarded an MBE for her services to darts in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours, while Hedman was awarded an OBE in last year’s King’s Honours List for services to darts and charity.

Hedman – the veteran in this year’s field at the age of 66 – ended her six-year wait for a PDC Women’s Series title in May, having also celebrated her maiden Lakeside title back in December.

Having lost the last two Blackpool finals to Greaves and Ashton, Sherrock is determined to return to winning ways.

“Winning this title in 2022 is one of my biggest achievements in the women’s game,” declared this year’s third seed.

“Blackpool is one of my favourite tournaments, so it’s great to be part of the Women’s World Matchplay again.

“I just want to go there this year and get that title back again, especially after missing match darts in the final last year.

“I’m really hungry to win it, but it’s going to be tough. Deta is a quality player and you’ve always got to produce your A-game against her.”

The afternoon’s other quarter-final will see Gemma Hayter face Sweden’s Vicky Pruim, with either Greaves or Viinikainen awaiting the winner in the semi-finals.

Despite losing to Sherrock on debut 12 months ago, Hayter has featured in two Women’s Series finals and a further four semi-finals in 2026 to underline her status as one of the sport’s most consistent operators.

Pruim – one of two debutants in this year’s event – became the first Swedish player to win a PDC Women’s Series title in May, where she defeated Hayter to celebrate a landmark triumph.

The semi-finals and final will also take place in a bumper afternoon session at the Winter Gardens, with the winner set to qualify for the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts and the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

2026 Betfred Women’s World Matchplay quarter-finals (from 1pm):

Beau Greaves v Kirsi Viinikainen

Gemma Hayter v Vicky Pruim

Lisa Ashton v Rhian O’Sullivan

Fallon Sherrock v Deta Hedman

Semi-Finals:

Greaves/Viinikainen v Hayter/Pruim

Ashton/O’Sullivan v Sherrock/Hedman