MARK WALSH 5-2 TONY O'SHEA

MARK WALSH secured a debut victory at the Wolverhampton Civic in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 triumph over Tony O'Shea.

The opening four legs of the Group A contest saw the match finely balanced before Walsh produced the more clinical finishing of the two to take three legs in succession.

Walsh won the first leg with a 61 checkout but missed three opportunities at doubles to secure a 2-0 lead and allowed O'Shea to level by hitting double four.

Walsh moved ahead for a second time by converting a 78 finish which was completed on his favourite double top.

O'Shea, making his third appearance at the Grand Slam, held throw to square the game at two apiece and had two chances to break throw in the fifth leg, but those chances went begging and Walsh hit double four to win it.

The Hertfordshire man then secured a vital break of throw by hitting double six to move 4-2 ahead before the first 180 of the contest in the seventh leg.

O'Shea managed to hit a maximum of his own but it was too little too late as Walsh stepped in to hit double top for the third time in the match to record victory.

"We were both very nervous out there as there so much riding on getting a good start in the group stages," said Walsh. "Tony certainly didn't play his best tonight and I managed to capitalise on that. I'm happy to take the win and move on to my next game in the group."