Women's World Matchplay field confirmed with Beau Greaves, Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock leading the way at Blackpool's Winter Gardens
The race to qualify for the 2026 Women's World Matchplay is officially complete with Beau Greaves, Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock leading the way at Blackpool's Winter Gardens; you can watch the World Cup of Darts live on Sky Sports in Frankfurt from June 11-14
Sunday 21 June 2026 21:02, UK
The field and draw for the Women's World Matchplay have been confirmed with Lisa Ashton set to defend her title.
The eight players include two-time winner Beau Greaves and 2022 champion Fallon Sherrock, with Gemma Hayter and Vicky Pruim also having guaranteed their spots.
Deta Hedman and Rhian O'Sullivan will also feature, with Finnish star Kirsi Viinikainen taking the final spot on offer.
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The fifth staging of the event will be held on the afternoon of Sunday July 26 at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.
Lancashire trailblazer Ashton will open her defence against Wales' O'Sullivan, who will make her third appearance in this summer's showpiece.
Top seed Greaves - who claimed back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024 - will be aiming to reclaim the title following her unprecedented 114-match winning run on the Women's Series circuit between April 2025 and March 2026.
The 22-year-old will renew her rivalry with Finland's Viinikainen in the opening match of the tournament, after the pair also went head-to-head at the same stage of last year's event.
The draw bracket was confirmed following the conclusion of PDC Women's Series Event 16 on Sunday, as Sherrock prepares to maintain her ever-present record at the Winter Gardens.
The Milton Keynes superstar prevailed in the tournament's inaugural staging in 2022, while reaching back-to-back finals in 2024 and 2025 - succumbing to Greaves and Ashton in the respective deciders.
Sherrock has been pitted against debutant Hedman, after the 66-year-old icon captured her second Women's Series title last month en route to sealing qualification.
The other quarter-final will see Hayter go head-to-head with Sweden's Pruim - another newcomer in next month's extravaganza.
Hayter has enjoyed a consistent 2026 campaign to date, reaching a brace of finals and four semi-finals to record a fourth-place finish on the Women's World Matchplay rankings.
Pruim, meanwhile, celebrated her maiden Women's Series title in May, before finishing as runner-up in Event 13 on Saturday to confirm her Blackpool bow.
The winner of the Betfred Women's World Matchplay will qualify for November's Grand Slam of Darts and the 2026/27 World Darts Championship, with an increased top prize of £15,000 also on offer.
Betfred Women's World Matchplay Rankings Top Eight
1 - Beau Greaves - £45,700
2 - Lisa Ashton - £15,550
3 - Fallon Sherrock - £13,150
4 - Gemma Hayter - £9,800
5 - Vicky Pruim - £8,250
6 - Deta Hedman - £7,500
7 - Rhian O'Sullivan - £6,300
8 - Kirsi Viinikainen - £6,150
2026 Betfred Women's World Matchplay
Sunday July 26
Draw Bracket
(1) Beau Greaves vs (8) Kirsi Viinikainen
(4) Gemma Hayter vs (5) Vicky Pruim
(2) Lisa Ashton vs (7) Rhian O'Sullivan
(3) Fallon Sherrock vs (6) Deta Hedman
Format
Quarter-Finals - Best of nine legs
Semi-Finals - Best of nine legs
Final - Best of 11 legs
Prize Money
Winner: £15,000
Runner-Up: £8,000
Semi-Finalists: £4,500
Quarter-Finalists: £2,000
Total: £40,000
What's happening on Sky Sports next?
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay will take place at the iconic Winter Gardens from July 18-26, as a 32-player field compete for the prestigious Phil Taylor Trophy.
World No 1 Luke Littler will be eyeing back-to-back titles in Blackpool, with 2024 champion Luke Humphries and three-time World Matchplay winner Michael van Gerwen also set to star in the £1m event.
This summer's action will also feature the fifth staging of the Betfred Women's World Matchplay, as eight of the biggest names in the women's game battle it out for the title currently occupied by Lisa Ashton.
Who will win this year's World Matchplay Darts? Luke Littler will be defending his title and you can watch all the action on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
