ADRIAN LEWIS made a winning start to the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a nail-biting 5-4 victory over Martin Phillips.Lewis had lost to the Welshman in last year's group stages but gained revenge this time around in a match where he hit five maximums.
The reigning PDC World Champion came out of the blocks superbly as he hit a 180 with his first three darts of the match before taking the opening leg with a 79 finish.
Phillips replied with an excellent 14-dart finish, but Lewis regained the lead by taking the third leg with the aid of back-to-back maximums.
The Welshman, making his second appearance at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall won the fourth leg with another 14-darter and then took the lead for the first time by hitting a pressure double eight with his last dart.
The world number two did not let that setback faze him as he hit double two and double nine to take the next two legs and go within touching distance of victory.
Lewis hit his fifth maximum of the match in the next leg, but Phillips was first to a finish and hit double 18 at the first time of asking to break throw and set up a deciding leg.
Lewis produced the better scoring in the decider and managed to hit a pressure double ten, with his opponent waiting on a two-darter, to end a high-quality encounter.
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