Grand Slam of Darts - First Day, evening, Report and Stastitics
TAYLOR'S PITCH PERFECT IN SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS OPENER
PHIL TAYLOR began his defence of the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts title with a superb 5-0 whitewash of Richie George at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday night, as Stephen Bunting, Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and James Wade turned on the style.
Taylor, a five-time Grand Slam of Darts winner, was in clinical mood as he swept aside former Lakeside Championship semi-finalist George.
Taylor averaged 100.20 in the win and hit five doubles from seven attempts, with George missing with three darts at double top in the game's third leg - after he had landed a 180 in being first to a finish - in his best chance to get off the mark. Taylor will now meet Holland's Christian Kist in Sunday's second Group E fixtures, after the 2012 Lakeside Champion was a 5-2 winner against Andy Hamilton in their first fixture.
"If you'd offered me a 5-0 win at the start of the night I'd have been a happy man and it's a good start for me," said Taylor. ""Richie's a better player than he showed tonight but you've got to take your chances. Christian's an ex World Champion and he's a good player so I know it won't be easy on Sunday, but I'll be ready for him."
Wolverhampton debutant Stephen Bunting enjoyed a memorable first appearance as he averaged almost 104 in a superb 5-1 Group H win over Wesley Harms, who was restricted to just two darts at a double in the contest.
"That's a really good win for me," said Bunting. "I was trying to prove a point and I'm happy to get the win because the first game is always the hardest. I was nervous so I'm glad to get it out of the way."
Gary Anderson set up a mouthwatering Group H clash with Bunting on Sunday night with an equally impressive 5-1 win over Dean Winstanley in their opening clash.
In-form James Wade - the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up - continued his strong recent form by hitting five doubles from six attempts in a superb 5-1 win over Jamie Caven. Wade will now meet Mervyn King on Sunday night in a repeat of their clash in last week's Masters final in Edinburgh, after the latter edged out Tony O'Shea 5-4 in a tight clash.
Former World Youth Champion Michael Smith kicked off Group F with an outstanding comeback as he hit back from 2-0 down to win 5-2 against Simon Whitlock, with the St Helens youngster reeling off four 180s and averaging almost 105.
"At 2-0 down I was always confident that I could get back into the game, and Simon didn't have an answer to what I threw at him," said a bullish Smith. "I've come here believing I'm going to win the Grand Slam and this is a great start."
Smith now plays Peter Wright in his second Group F gae on Sunday, with the PDC world number four having defeated Brendan Dolan 5-2 in their opener.
Statistics
| Ave | 180s | Doubles | Player | v | Player | Ave | 180s | Doubles |
| 95.69 | 1 | 2/13 | Hamilton | 2:5 | Kist | 95.52 | 1 | 5/12 |
| 103.84 | 1 | 5/8 | Bunting | 5:1 | Harms | 91.54 | 1 | 1/2 |
| 80.37 | 2 | 5/8 | King | 5:4 | O'Shea | 89.54 | 4 | 4/16 |
| 91.96 | 1 | 5/9 | Wright | 5:2 | Dolan | 92.82 | 1 | 2/5 |
| 96.32 | 2 | 5/11 | Anderson | 5:1 | Winstanley | 78.40 | 0 | 1/8 |
| 100.20 | 0 | 5/7 | Taylor | 5:0 | George | 80.09 | 1 | 0/3 |
| 92.84 | 1 | 2/4 | Whitlock | 2:5 | Smith | 104.91 | 4 | 5/7 |
| 99.48 | 1 | 5/6 | Wade | 5:1 | Caven | 98.43 | 1 | 1/3 |