Phil Taylor has won the Grand Slam on both occasions it has been staged

Phil Taylor started the defence of his Grand Slam of Darts title with a 5-0 win over former women's world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova on Saturday.

Taylor averaged 105.85 against the Russian and faces Mark Webster in his second group match on Sunday evening.

"It was a hard game for both of us to play because we know each other so well," said PDC world champion Taylor.

"Anastasia is a great player and she has so much potential to realise. She will only be better for this."

Dobromyslova, making her second appearance at the Grand Slam, was restricted to just one dart at a double in the entire match by the 14-time world champion.

"It wasn't too bad a performance, but Phil was too good and I got what I deserved," said Dobromyslova. "It's happened now and I will just look ahead to the next game."

Taylor, from Stoke-on-Trent, is hoping to win a third consecutive Grand Slam title, after victories in Wolverhampton in 2007 and 2008.

Elsewhere in Group A, Welshman Webster came out on top in a tough encounter against Vincent van der Voort, eventually prevailing 5-3.

Other highlights on the first night of competition at the Civic Hall included victories for Raymond van Barneveld, Mervyn King and Tony O'Shea.

All 32 players are in action on Sunday, with James Wade, Adrian Lewis and BDO world champion Ted Hankey all getting their campaigns under way.

The beaten finalist from 2007, Andy Hamilton, and 2008 runner-up Terry Jenkins also play their first group matches in the afternoon session.

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