STARS SET TO COLLIDE IN SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS
THE SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts kicks off on Saturday, with reigning champion Phil Taylor bidding to prevent Michael van Gerwen completing his sweep of major titles as Scott Mitchell, Martin Adams and Andy Fordham prepare to make their Wolves Civic debuts.
The 32-player cross-code tournament features eight representatives from the BDO who will do battle with stars from the PDC across nine days in Wolverhampton, live on Sky Sports.
The first round sees the players split into eight groups of four for the round-robin stage, which kicks off on Saturday with play across two sessions.
Reigning champion Phil Taylor, who won his sixth Grand Slam of Darts title in eight years by defeating Dave Chisnall in the 2014 final, kicks off his challenge to retain the title in the afternoon session against Welsh left-hander Martin Phillips.
Taylor will also face Austrian youngster Rowby-John Rodriguez and Robbie Green in Group H, and is looking forward to his return to the Wolves Civic - despite suffering a 10-9 loss to Adrian Lewis in last weekend's European Championship quarter-finals.
"I always enjoy the Grand Slam and I'm excited about this week," said Taylor. "It's a different event because you've got a mix of players and the group games, and I can't wait to get out there.
"I'm playing well but one or two missed doubles are costing me at the moment - but that's a measure of how well everyone else is playing now. The standard's higher than it's ever been and I'm loving the challenge."
Saturday's afternoon session also features PDC World Champion Gary Anderson up against Larry Butler in Group E, which also features 2012 Grand Slam of Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld and Wolverhampton debutant Andy Boulton.
"I really enjoy the Grand Slam and it will be great to get back on the Wolves Civic stage," said Anderson, last weekend's European Championship runner-up with a 11-10 loss to Michael van Gerwen.
"It's a tough group and I know I've got a big game straight away because Larry's got loads of experience and is playing really well.
"It was good last week to get to the European Championship final, and even though I was so close to winning, it's a good thing because it's given me a kick up the backside and I'm raring to go."
2010 Grand Slam of Darts finalist James Wade faces Dutch debutant Michel van der Horst in Group F, with World Youth Champion Keegan Brown taking on resurgent Mark Webster in their other fixture.
Group G features two other former Wolves Civic finalists, with 2007 runner-up Terry Jenkins opening against Welsh debutant Jonny Clayton and Scotland's Robert Thornton, who lost in the final two years ago, up against Belgium's Geert De Vos.
The evening session will be headlined by world number one Michael van Gerwen, who begins his bid to claim the elusive Grand Slam of Darts title against Dutch qualifier Mark Oosterhuis.
After the Dutchman's wins this year in The Masters, UK Open and World Matchplay, the Wolves Civic title is now the only PDC major title which van Gerwen has not won, as he seeks to emulate the all-conquering Phil Taylor.
The 26-year-old retained his European Championship title last week in Belgium, and need no reminder that the Grand Slam trophy has so far avoided his grasp, saying: "I remind myself every day of the week, don't worry about that.
"I always want to look to perfection, and perfection is trying to win everything and make sure you use your energy at the right times.
"Every tournament drives me on, because I'm a winner and I don't like to lose. I'm really pleased with how everything's going at the moment and I'm looking forward to the Grand Slam."
Van Gerwen's Group A rivals Kim Huybrechts - a semi-finalist last year - and Steve West will kick off an evening session which also features five players who have enjoyed Lakeside Championship glory.
Two-time PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis faces Andy Fordham, whose 2004 Lakeside triumph was followed by the popular Charlton-based thrower dropping out of the spotlight as he battled against health problems.
Fordham enjoyed a welcome return to form by winning through the BDO Qualifier in Hull last weekend, and admitted: "I'm looking forward to the Grand Slam and I hope that I can do myself, and the people that have been backing me, proud.
"For years I didn't think it would happen again - to get there is a dream come true, it's like starting all over again. I'm getting confidence from the way I'm playing and it's getting better all the time, and I hope I can play the way I've been playing."
Lewis and Fordham are joined in Group C by Michael Smith, the former World Youth Champion who reached last year's semi-finals in Wolverhampton, and home favourite Wayne Jones, a semi-finalist five years ago who won through the PDC Qualifier.
Reigning Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell will make his Grand Slam of Darts debut against number four seed Peter Wright, with the Dorset-based part-time farmer also set to face 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall and experienced Mervyn King.
"It's been a wonderful time being the Lakeside Champion and I've tried to enjoy it as much as possible, but it will be lovely to be the underdog for the first time in ten months this weekend!" said Mitchell.
"The PDC guys are seen as the elite and we have elite in the BDO as well so it's our chance to show them that we can play as well as they can, and that's what I'll be hoping to do, mix it with them and hopefully come out on the right end.
"I want to play well and show my best game but I can't wait, I'm really excited."
Three-time Lakeside Champion Martin Adams will also make his Wolves Civic debut in the event as he takes on Ian White in Group B, where two other former Lakeside Champions, Jelle Klaasen and Steve Beaton, also meet in their opener.
Saturday's opening fixtures will be followed by the second Group Stage games on Sunday, as the previous day's winning players from each group face off and the losing players also meet.
The Group Stage then concludes for Groups E-H on Monday and for Groups A-D on Tuesday, with the top two players from each group progressing to the knockout last 16.
Play then continues throughout the week at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall before the £400,000 event concludes with the semi-finals and final on Sunday November 15.
Tickets for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts can still be purchased in person from the Wolves Civic Box Office, by calling 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk, although some sessions have now sold out.
SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 7
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups E-H First Games
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Robbie Green (H)
Terry Jenkins v Jonny Clayton (G)
Robert Thornton v Geert De Vos (G)
James Wade v Michel van der Horst (F)
Keegan Brown v Mark Webster (F)
Gary Anderson v Larry Butler (E)
Phil Taylor v Martin Phillips (H)
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Boulton (E)
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Groups A-D First Games
Kim Huybrechts v Steve West (A)
Jelle Klaasen v Steve Beaton (B)
Michael Smith v Wayne Jones (C)
Dave Chisnall v Mervyn King (D)
Adrian Lewis v Andy Fordham (C)
Michael van Gerwen v Mark Oosterhuis (A)
Ian White v Martin Adams (B)
Peter Wright v Scott Mitchell (D)
All games are the best of nine legs