Winter is swirling into Doncaster, blowing up the train tracks and down past Balby Bridge Social Club, five minutes from where teenage darts sensation Beau Greaves grew up with her five brothers and sisters. Inside it is warm, a Christmas tree in the corner, England flags strung across the ceiling, while Greaves uncomplainingly goes through a complex photoshoot upstairs. She’s 6ft tall in her sparkling white trainers, and towers over the photographer.
The 18-year-old Greaves has had a magical year. She has won an astonishing 66 consecutive matches, and eight tournaments in a row in the PDC Women’s Series to qualify for the PDC World Championship which starts on Thursday at Alexandra Palace. On Friday at 8pm, she faces William O’Connor in the first round, at 18 the youngest woman to play in the tournament, which contains 96 players but just three women.
