The England Selsey Open Women's Championship provided a fitting showcase of top-class darts at Seal Bay Resort, with former world number one Deta Hedman producing a series of impressive displays to lift the title. Sponsored by Seal Bay Resort and One80 Darts, the event attracted a strong field and delivered quality darts from the opening rounds through to the final.
Hedman showed her class throughout the knockout stages. After overcoming Steph Clarke 4-2 in the Last 32 and defeating Amy Lincoln 4-0 in the Last 16, she survived one of the matches of the tournament in the quarter-finals, edging past Leanne Topper 4-3 in a contest where both players averaged over 73. Hedman then booked her place in the final with a 4-2 victory over Paige Pauling, averaging 71.39 in another accomplished performance.
The bottom half of the draw saw Rhian O'Sullivan emerge from a highly competitive section. O'Sullivan produced one of the standout displays of the tournament in her quarter-final, averaging 76.98 during a commanding 4-1 victory over Anca Zijlstra. Her semi-final against Eve Watson proved to be a thrilling encounter, with O'Sullivan holding her nerve to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory and a place in the championship match.
Eve Watson was undoubtedly one of the stars of the event despite falling just short of the final. The former champion delivered some of the highest-quality darts seen all weekend, recording an outstanding 85.89 average in her 4-0 victory over Donna Ralph before following up with an 84.16 average against Lorraine Hyde in the quarter-finals.
In the final, Hedman demonstrated exactly why she remains one of the most respected names in the sport. Producing a steady 72.49 average, she controlled the contest from the early stages and defeated O'Sullivan 5-1 to secure the England Selsey Open Women's title. O'Sullivan averaged 67.29 in defeat but found Hedman in determined form on the day.
Final Result
Deta Hedman 5-1 Rhian O'Sullivan
Final Averages
- Deta Hedman: 72.49
- Rhian O'Sullivan: 67.29
Semi-Final Results
- Deta Hedman 4-2 Paige Pauling (71.39 v 65.97)
- Rhian O'Sullivan 4-3 Eve Watson (72.18 v 76.74)
Congratulations to Deta Hedman, who added another title to her illustrious career with a superb series of performances to become the 2026 England Selsey Open Women's Champion. Her victory capped off a highly competitive championship that showcased the strength and depth of the women's game.
