Deta Hedman ended a near six-year wait for a PDC Women’s Series title on Sunday, as Vicky Pruim also celebrated her maiden triumph on a landmark day in Leicester.
Sunday’s Women’s Series double-header saw Events Eleven and Twelve take place at the Mattioli Arena, following back-to-back wins for Beau Greaves on Saturday.
However, Hedman stole the headlines in Sunday’s opening event, defeating Finland’s Kirsi Viinikainen 5-3 to boost her hopes of qualifying for July’s Women’s World Matchplay.
Following an opening round whitewash of Ros Hemmings, Hedman fought back from 3-2 down to edge past Chris Savvery, before battling past Kim Holden to seal a spot in the quarter-finals.
The 66-year-old then recorded back-to-back 5-3 victories over Women’s World Matchplay champion Lisa Ashton and Rhian O’Sullivan, who accounted for Greaves in the last eight.
This set up a decisive clash against Viinikainen in the Event Eleven showpiece, and Hedman made a terrific start, racing into an early 2-0 lead with a 107 average.
Viinikainen hit back by winning three of the next four legs to restore parity at three apiece, only for Hedman to follow up a crucial break in leg seven with a 15-dart hold to seal the title.
“I’m so pleased to get over the winning line,” revealed Hedman, the oldest title winner in PDC Women’s Series history. “This weekend I’ve played really, really well. I’ve been consistent for a change.
“Me and Kirsi had been sitting together all weekend. Kirsi never lays down, but neither do I!”
Pruim claims maiden title
Pruim then created her own slice of history in Event Twelve, overcoming Gemma Hayter to become the 16th player to clinch a PDC Women’s Series title.
Following comfortable wins against Grace Ferridge and Angela Kirkwood, Pruim whitewashed talented youngster Paige Pauling in racing through to the quarter-finals.
The experienced Swede then accounted for Event Ten runner-up Karolina Ratajska and Lauryn Salter to set up a showdown against Hayter, who claimed the scalp of Greaves in the last eight.
Hayter also halted Hedman’s bid for consecutive titles in the semi-finals, although she was unable to capture her third Women’s Series success, with Pruim running out a 5-2 winner in Sunday’s finale.
“This means a lot to me,” said Pruim, a runner-up on the Women’s Series circuit in October 2023. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s paid off. Today it all came together.
“This is going to give me a lot of confidence. I know I can beat anyone, and if I can get both parts of my game working together, I can be dangerous.”
Pruim has now stormed into the provisional Women’s World Matchplay qualification spots, leapfrogging her Scandinavian counterpart Viinikainen into seventh place.
Hedman, meanwhile, occupies fifth spot, with Hayter and O’Sullivan in fourth and sixth respectively following their impressive showings in the East Midlands.
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Matt Edgar and Mark Webster react to Beau Greaves’ historic Players Championship win
Despite going two events without a Women’s Series title for the first time since last April, Greaves still boasts a significant lead at the summit, ahead of her great rivals Ashton and Fallon Sherrock.
The top eight players on the Women’s Series rankings following Event Sixteen will feature at the Winter Gardens, as the biggest names in the women’s game compete for the coveted title.
The top three players from the final PDC Women’s Series rankings will also qualify to compete in the 2026/27 World Darts Championship, with the top-ranked player qualifying for the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts.
The 2026 PDC Women’s Series will resume next month, as Events 13-16 take place in Wigan on June 20-21.
2026 PDC Women’s Series
Sunday May 17, Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Event Eleven
Quarter-Finals
Kirsi Viinikainen 5-0 Lauren Bloomfield
Joanne Oldershaw 5-1 Eleanor Cairns
Rhian O’Sullivan 5-4 Beau Greaves
Deta Hedman 5-3 Lisa Ashton
Semi-Finals
Kirsi Viinikainen 5-3 Joanne Oldershaw
Deta Hedman 5-3 Rhian O’Sullivan
Final
Deta Hedman 5-3 Kirsi Viinikainen
Event Twelve
Quarter-Finals
Vicky Pruim 5-2 Karolina Ratajska
Lauryn Salter 5-4 Kyana Frauenfelder
Deta Hedman 5-4 Fallon Sherrock
Gemma Hayter 5-4 Beau Greaves
Semi-Finals
Vicky Pruim 5-3 Lauryn Salter
Gemma Hayter 5-1 Deta Hedman
Final
Vicky Pruim 5-2 Gemma Hayter
What’s happening on Premier League Night 16 in Sheffield
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League continues at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, as the Steel City plays host to Night 16.
Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting will lock horns in the evening’s opener, before Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen renew their rivalry.
Table-topper Luke Littler will then take on Josh Rock, while Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen also go head-to-head for a place in the last four.
Ranking points are awarded per night – with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists – to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday, May 28.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
