Taylors Revenge

Phil Taylor avenged last year's quarter-final defeat at the Grand Slam of Darts by edging out Steve Beaton 5-3 in an entertaining group clash in Wolverhampton.

The Power's reign as Grand Slam champion was ended by Beaton last year, and the 15-time world champion was well up for the rematch as he made it two wins out of two in Group E.
Beaton led 2-1 early on after taking out Shanghai 120, but back-to-back 180s from Taylor got him back into it, and he eventually ran out a 5-3 winner, although always with Beaton snapping at his heels.

"Steve's been playing well for the last year really and I had big memories of him beating me last year so I was really up for the game tonight," said Taylor. "Last year every time I left him on a finish he took it out and he was a little bit like that tonight.
"He stuck in two 180s just when it mattered and I was delighted to get that tops in the end because I really didn't want it to go to 4-4. When he's on song he's probably one of the toughest players to beat on the circuit."

King task

Mervyn King now needs to beat Taylor on Wednesday to stand a chance of getting through after he beat teenager James Hubbard, who showed some top darts at times, 5-3 in the end.
Hubbard had his chances but it was King who grabbed his first win of the group to stay in with a shout on progressing, although he will have it all to do.
"I've got to beat Phil," said King. "I've done it before but that's a tough match, I've come off 12 months of not playing particularly well but who knows. If I can start finishing a little bit better maybe I can give him a run for his money."
Paul Nicholson and Wes Newton played out the match of the night, with The Asset taking it in a final leg decider, with him winning the Bull to throw first being crucial in his 5-4 victory.
"I was looking forward to that game," said Nicholson. "Me and Wes have had some great battles over the last couple of years, he beat me in the first few but I gradually got back into it and I thought if I can hold my throw winning the Bull might be crucial and that's how it turned out."

Swede victory

Swede Magnus Caris is next up for Nicholson and he has to win to get through after his commanding 5-1 victory over Barrie Bates - the same score Jan Dekker posted against Arron Monk.
In another battle of former world champions Mark Webster was a commanding 5-1 winner over Canadian John Part, with the Welshman now two out of two and all-but through to the next round.
"I was a bit off on my doubles but I'm not going to beat myself up over it, I scored well and gave myself lots of chances, maybe that's why I missed them," said Webster. "I'm not thinking I'm through yet I'm going to try to improve for Wednesday and win to make sure I go through."
World champion Adrian Lewis strolled through his match against Co Stompe with a breathtaking 109 average in a quick-fire 5-1 victory that gave the Dutchman no chance whatsoever.