Summary:
Lisa Ashton and Eleanor Cairns won events 15 and 16 of the 2026 PDC Women’s Series in Wigan on Sunday 21 June. Ashton beat Beau Greaves 5-1 to claim her 20th title on the tour, before Cairns secured her first trophy by defeating Angela Kirkwood in the final of the weekend’s final tournament. Cairns’ victory also sealed the final cut for the 2026 Women’s World Matchplay: Kirsi Viinikainen retains the eighth and final qualifying spot for Blackpool.
| Key facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan |
| Event 15 | Lisa Ashton 5–1 Beau Greaves |
| Match 16 | Eleanor Cairns beats Angela Kirkwood in the final |
| Key moment | Ashton’s 20th Women’s Series title and Cairns’ first title |
| Consequence | Kirsi Viinikainen retains the 8th and final place in the Women’s World Matchplay |
Lisa Ashton gets her weekend back on track with a major title win over Beau Greaves
Sunday’s action got off to a flying start with Lisa Ashton’s victory in Event 15. The Englishwoman dominated Beau Greaves 5-1 in a final that pitted two of the PDC Women’s Tour’s leading lights against each other. This victory needed no lengthy statistical analysis to carry significant weight: beating Greaves in the final of the last qualifying weekend before Blackpool meant both returning to the limelight and reminding everyone that Ashton remains a key player when the stakes are high.
This trophy is also symbolic, as it marks Lisa Ashton’s 20th title on the Women’s Series circuit. With just a few weeks to go before she defends her crown at the Women’s World Matchplay, she has sent out a message that could not be clearer: she is still capable of beating the best player in the field over a short format – exactly the kind of match that counts at Blackpool.
Eleanor Cairns clinches her first title at the perfect time
The final word of the weekend went to Eleanor Cairns, winner of Event 16. The Englishwoman beat Angela Kirkwood in the final to claim her first Women’s Series title, which will count towards her personal career, even if it came too late to secure her a place in the top eight qualifiers for the Women’s World Matchplay.
This success is no less significant in sporting terms. Firstly, because it ended the run of the big favourites and brought a genuinely fresh face to the weekend’s winners’ list. Secondly, because it had a direct impact on the race for Blackpool: Cairns also beat Steph Clarke in the quarter-finals, thereby eliminating another potential rival for the final qualifying spot. Put simply, she knocked out two players who could still have posed a threat to Kirsi Viinikainen.
Why Cairns’ victory sealed the final cut for Blackpool
Before the weekend’s final tournament, eighth place in the qualifying standings remained precarious. Kirsi Viinikainen occupied that final spot, whilst Angela Kirkwood and Steph Clarke could still overtake her with a strong performance. The outcome of Event 16 closed that door: Cairns’ victory over Clarke in the quarter-finals, followed by her win over Kirkwood in the final stages, neutralised both direct threats.
The result is clear: the field for the 2026 Women’s World Matchplay is now confirmed. Beau Greaves, Lisa Ashton, Fallon Sherrock, Gemma Hayter, Vicky Pruim, Deta Hedman, Rhian O’Sullivan and Kirsi Viinikainen will be in Blackpool. For Viinikainen, the margin remains slim, but it is enough. For Kirkwood and Clarke, the frustration is all the greater as the door remained open right up until Sunday’s final matches.
| Qualifying ranking | Player | Winnings |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
A Sunday that finally completes Wigan’s story
So Wigan’s weekend did not merely confirm the overall dominance of Beau Greaves, who had already won two titles the day before. It also provided a fitting conclusion to the story: Lisa Ashton came away with a great result against Greaves, Eleanor Cairns made her most impressive breakthrough at this level, and the pecking order for Blackpool is now set in stone.
From here on, the picture becomes clearer for the coming weeks. On the one hand, Ashton, Greaves and Sherrock remain the three names that naturally attract the most attention. On the other, the lower half of the qualifying field reveals something important about the state of the circuit: Vicky Pruim and Deta Hedman have secured their places, Gemma Hayter has confirmed her consistency, and Kirsi Viinikainen survived the cut despite being under immense pressure right up until the final day.
For Darts Nerd, this topic is significant precisely because it links two useful perspectives: the raw results of events 15 and 16, and the most tangible consequence of this Sunday – namely, the final field for the 2026 Women’s World Matchplay. The Blackpool tournament can now be analysed with a stabilised draw and clearly identifiable recent form.
