Luke Littler: World champion suffers shock defeat to Beau Greaves at Junior World Championship

Beau Greaves emerged victorious in a 6-5 thriller against Luke Littler to become the first woman to reach the final of the World Junior Championship.

Littler entered the Wigan tournament on the back of his 6-1 demolition of world number one Luke Humphries in the World Grand Prix final on Sunday.

The 18-year-old won all three of his matches during the preliminary stage of the event, with victories over Dutchman Jeffrey Keen, Icelandic Alexander Thorvaldsson and Belgian Matthias Moors.

However, the world champion had a below-par match against fellow Englishman Charlie Manby.

Littler was on the brink of a 5-3 defeat to the 20-year-old, before winning the next three matches, then found his touch in the quarter-finals with a 6-1 victory over Dutchman Jamai van den Herik.

Warrington teenager Littler found himself 2-1 down in the semi-final against Greaves but responded by winning three matches in a row to take the upper hand.

But Greaves, a three-time WDF women’s world champion – who is expected to accept a PDC Tour card for 2026-27 – rallied to level the match at 4-4, 5-5.

Greaves then stunned Littler in the decider as she threw an 11-dart leg – the 21-year-old from Doncaster sealing victory with a check-out of 80.

She will meet defending champion Gian van Veen in next month’s final after the Dutchman, 23, recorded a 6-4 victory over Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki in the other semi-final.

The World Junior Championship final will be played on November 23 in Minehead, before the Players Championship final on the same day.

Littler, who averaged 107.4 to Greaves’ 105, posted on Instagram after his loss: “Fair play to Beau. All the best to Minehead. Talent.”

Players aged 16 to 24 can participate in the World Junior Championship.

Littler won the 2023 youth title at the age of 16, weeks before breaking out by finishing runner-up in the 2024 world champion.