PHIL TAYLOR turned on the style as he kicked off his bid to win a fifth William Hill Grand Slam of Darts title with a whitewash of Stuart Kellett on Friday night, as Michael van Gerwen won the all-Dutch battle with Vincent van der Voort and reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld enjoyed a strong start to his title defence.
Four-time Wolves Civic champion Taylor was at his unstoppable best as he picked up a sensational first win of the round-robin phase, averaging 112.16 - a record for the event's group stage - and allowing Kellett just one dart at a double in the game.
Taylor took out finishes of 108 and 100 as he established a 3-0 lead, finishing an 11-darter in the process before adding legs of 14 and 12 darts to complete a brilliant performance.
Taylor, who now meets Paul Nicholson in Sunday night's second Group A game, had won The Masters in Edinburgh last weekend, and was delighted to take his imperious form to the Wolverhampton Civic Hall stage.
Nicholson kicked off his challenge in the tournament with a 5-2 win against Kevin Painter, completing victory in the battle of former Players Championship Finals winners with a 125 checkout.
2012 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Michael van Gerwen bounced back to winning ways on the Wolverhampton stage with a 5-3 win over Vincent van der Voort, as the pair put aside their close friendship in a quick-fire contest.
Van der Voort led 2-1 as the Premier League Darts champion was punished for early missed doubles, before van Gerwen regained his range to win four of the final five legs to take victory.
Van Gerwen will face Dean Winstanley in their second Group D game, after the 2012 semi-finalist produced some brilliant darts to defeat in-form Kim Huybrechts 5-2.
Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis came from 2-1 down to win 5-2 against Richie George, the Lakeside Championship semi-finalist and son of Bobby George who was making his debut in the event.
Lewis' opponent in their second Group C contest will be Ronny Huybrechts, who enjoyed a 5-3 win over former Lakeside Champion Christian Kist.
Gary Anderson stormed to 5-1 win over Wesley Harms in their Group B opener, averaging 107.14 in a fine display which saw him win the first four legs without reply and also have darts to claim a whitewash, before hitting a 13-darter to deny the Dutchman a comeback.
Anderson now plays 2010 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Wade, who opened his clash with Wright with checkouts of 130 and 160 before completing a superb 5-2 win over the debutant.
In Saturday's afternoon session, Raymond van Barneveld began the defence of his Grand Slam of Darts title with a fine 5-2 win over Ricky Evans, while rivals Simon Whitlock, Robert Thornton and Scott Waites all picked up victories.
Dutch star van Barneveld had ended a five-year wait for a major individual title when he overcame Michael van Gerwen 16-14 in last year's final of the cross-code event.
He continued his winning run on the Wolves Civic stage with a confident 5-2 victory over World Youth Championship finalist Ricky Evans in their Group E contest to kick off their challenge this time around.
Van Barneveld now plays Tony O'Shea in their second Group E game on Sunday, after the Lakeside Championship finalist edged a thriller with Mervyn King 5-4, as the Norfolk ace came back from 4-1 down to force a decider.
2010 Grand Slam of Darts winner Scott Waites, the reigning Lakeside Champion, made a winning start to his challenge in Group H with a 5-3 defeat of Ted Hankey.
Waites' second group game will now see him face World Youth Champion Michael Smith, who impressed with a 103 average in his 5-3 defeat of Dave Chisnall, who led 3-1 before the youngster hit legs of 11, 12, 14 and 13 darts to storm to victory.
Former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster opened his challenge with a confidence boosting 5-2 win over Wes Newton, who led 2-0 early on only to see the Welsh ace, aided by a brilliant 164 checkout, to reel off five successive legs.
Webster will now take on Simon Whitlock in their second Group G game, with the Australian having been a 5-2 winner against Ross Smith, the Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner making his Wolverhampton debut.
Former UK Open champion Robert Thornton kicked off the tournament with a superb whitewash of former semi-finalist Mark Walsh, hitting finishes of 126 and 140 in a fine display.
Thornton's second Group F opponent will be Justin Pipe, who celebrated his 42nd birthday with a 5-2 defeat of Andy Hamilton.
Sunday's play sees the second group matches split across two sessions at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, with Groups E-H competing in the afternoon before Groups A-D play in the evening.
William Hill Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 9
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Groups E-H First Games
Robert Thornton 5-0 Mark Walsh (F)
Andy Hamilton 2-5 Justin Pipe (F)
Scott Waites 5-3 Ted Hankey (H)
Dave Chisnall 3-5 Michael Smith (H)
Wes Newton 2-5 Mark Webster (G)
Simon Whitlock 5-2 Ross Smith (G)
Mervyn King 4-5 Tony O'Shea (E)
Raymond van Barneveld 5-2 Ricky Evans (E)
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Groups A-D First Games
Gary Anderson 5-1 Wesley Harms (B)
James Wade 5-2 Peter Wright (B)
Christian Kist 3-5 Ronny Huybrechts (C)
Adrian Lewis 5-2 Richie George (C)
Kevin Painter 2-5 Paul Nicholson (A)
Phil Taylor 5-0 Stuart Kellett (A)
Michael van Gerwen 5-3 Vincent van der Voort (D)
Kim Huybrechts 2-5 Dean Winstanley (D)
Sunday November 10
Afternoon Session (1.30pm-5.30pm)
Groups E-H Second Games
Mervyn King v Ricky Evans (E)
Andy Hamilton v Mark Walsh (F)
Wes Newton v Ross Smith (G)
Dave Chisnall v Ted Hankey (H)
Robert Thornton v Justin Pipe (F)
Scott Waites v Michael Smith (H)
Raymond van Barneveld v Tony O'Shea (E)
Simon Whitlock v Mark Webster (G)
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Groups A-D Second Games
Christian Kist v Richie George (C)
Wesley Harms v Peter Wright (B)
Kevin Painter v Stuart Kellett (A)
Kim Huybrechts v Vincent van der Voort (D)
Adrian Lewis v Ronny Huybrechts (C)
Phil Taylor v Paul Nicholson (A)
James Wade v Gary Anderson (B)
Michael van Gerwen v Dean Winstanley (D)
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