CO STOMPE 5-3 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT

CO STOMPE came out on top in the battle of the Dutchman courtesy of a 5-3 triumph over Vincent van der Voort at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.

Stompe had established a 3-1 lead in the early stages of the game and managed to keep that advantage to make a winning start in Group H.

Van der Voort won the opening leg against the darts by hitting double eight, but Stompe won the second to break back and then took the third by hitting double top.

That gave Stompe a 2-1 lead and he then increased that by winning the fourth leg in style with a 121 checkout on the bullsye.

Stompe moved three legs clear by hitting double two, but van der Voort continued to fight by hitting a 13-dart finish to win leg six.

Van der Voort then won the seventh against the darts with an excellent 101 finish to reduce the deficit to one leg before Stompe kicked off the next leg with back-to-back maximums.

The attempt at the seventh treble 20 fell below the target but the leg was won in 11 darts, completed on double top, to get the two points.

"I've had a terrible year since winning the World Cup of Darts with Raymond van Barneveld," admitted Stompe.

"My form is starting to come back again though and I reached two semi-finals in Crawley last weekend, which was a real confidence boost for me.