The PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts begins tonight as 32 stars of the sport battle for the £100,000 title at the Wolverhampton Civic.

Reigning champion Phil Taylor is bidding to claim a third successive title in the ITV-televised event, which begins with a group phase featuring eight four-player pools.

Taylor will come up against Anastasia Dobromyslova, the Russian former women’s world champion, in tonight’s opening games, with former BDO World Champion Mark Webster and Holland’s Vincent van der Voort also in Group A.

Dobromyslova took Wayne Mardle to a deciding leg last year, and has claimed a number of notable male scalps since joining the PDC circuit.

“I haven’t done as well as I wanted to, but I’ve done better than most people expected me to,” said the 25-year-old about her 11 months on the circuit. “I’m quite pleased and I think I’m a better player now.”

And she admits that facing Taylor, a close friend, will hold no fear in their opening group game.

“Phil has looked after me and we’ve had a few exhibitions together and practiced together too.” she said.

Taylor has been imperious in the previous two Grand Slams, and has also claimed every major ranking PDC title for the past year.

“It’s a fantastic tournament and I’d love to make it three titles,” said Taylor.

“Everyone in it is a champion in their own right or has been successful so it’s a great field of players.

“The group stage is tough because the games are so short, and playing Anastasia first will be hard.”

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld, the PDC world No 2, takes on the other female in the field, current world champion Francis Hoenselaar, tonight.

Shropshire’s BDO world champion Ted Hankey, the No 2 seed, has been drawn in a tough Group E, alongside Aussie Simon Whitlock, Wayne Mardle and Yorkshire’s Scott Waites.

The Telford-based star, nicknamed The Count, defeated Tony O’Shea to win his second World Championship in January, and is making his Grand Slam debut against Waites tomorrow afternoon.

“I’ve watched the Grand Slam in previous years and it’s been entertaining,” he said. “I’m happy with my group but would have been happy with any other group.

“I just want to be there and show people how good I am. I don’t like the short games though. I’ve got to dig in straight away and hopefully get through the group to the longer games, which suit me better.”