Grand Slam of Darts preview
Now in its fourth year, the Grand Slam of Darts takes centre stage tomorrow, with the best of both darts worlds colliding at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton.
The two rival bodies of the Professional Darts Corporation and the British Darts Organisation do battle over the next nine days to see who will collect the first-prize of £100,000.
Phil Taylor is the only winner of the Grand Slam since its creation back in 2007, and once again he is the overwhelming favourite to continue the trend. Taylor is hungry for success, and the 15-time champion of the world will be looking to get back to winning ways after suffering a shock semi-final defeat to Adrian Lewis at the World Grand Prix last month in the deciding leg.
It was PDC versus BDO in last year’s Grand Slam final, with Taylor thumping Scott Waites 16-2 in one of the most one-sided matches seen. Taylor has been drawn against Wes Newton, Michael van Gerwen and the Count, Ted Hankey, a two-time winner of the BDO world championship at Lakeside.
Taylor is excited to be coming back to the Grand Slam, and will be wearing glasses for the first time on the oche in his career. “I already wear glasses for driving and reading,” said the Power. “But my optician said I now need them when I play because my long-range vision is suffering.
He is already the best player darts has seen, and the 50-year-old says wearing specs will make him a better player, which is worrying for the rest of the field. “It'll mean I can see the board clearer than before, which is a positive thing,” he said. “It'll be like rolling back the clock to 20 years ago to when my vision was fine.
“It's one of those things that happens when you get older. Some people need false teeth, some people need hearing aids. It is no big deal to me,” Taylor added.
He is looking forward to playing Hankey this year after he missed out on the chance to last year, as Hankey suffered an early exit. “I like Ted, and I'm looking forward to facing him,” he said. “I just missed out on facing him last year as he failed to progress from the group stage.
“But I'll definitely be facing him this time, and I expect it'll be a tough battle,” said Taylor.
Last time around Waites had a tremendous run to the final, beating top players such as Gary Anderson, Simon Whitlock and Terry Jenkins in the knockout stages. This year, he lines up in a group with World Grand Prix runner-up Lewis, Dutchman Co Stompe, and Martin Phillips.
World Grand Prix winner James Wade has the fastest player in the world Vincent van der Voort in his group, along with Justin Pipe and Tony O’Shea- BDO world championship finalist in 2009.
Two world championship runner-ups are in the same group, as Whitlock, runner-up to Taylor in the PDC world championship this year, plays Dave Chisnall, runner-up to Martin Adams in the BDO world final this year. Colin Osborne and Robert Thornton are the other two players in the group.
Local boy Wayne Jones plays UK Open runner-up Anderson, 2008 BDO world champion Mark Webster- now on the PDC circuit, who also finished third at the 2010 PDC world championship - and Mark Hylton.
The PDC Unicorn women’s world champion Stacy Bromberg has been drawn against 2008 Grand Slam runner-up Jenkins, Mervyn King and John Henderson.
Five-time champion of the world Raymond van Barneveld reached the semi-finals here last year, losing to Taylor, plays Darryl Fitton, Colin Lloyd and Tricia Wright, runner-up to Bromberg in the final.
Players Championship Finals winner Paul Nicholson has Ronnie Baxter, Steve Beaton and Arron Monk.
Taylor will be the one to beat once again, even if his vision is on the blink.
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