Winmau MvG Diamond Edition Dartboard

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Gary Anderson is another former finalist in action on Monday, and the Scottish stalwart has been drawn against Portugal’s Jose de Sousa in an intriguing first round contest. Aspinall keeps the match alive with a comfortable hold of throw in 17 darts but he'll need to break the MVG throw in the next or it's game over. Looking ahead to facing Smith, he said: "I've stayed in the UK to get myself prepared and now I'm looking forward to Thursday night. Smith, visit one As Smith’s first dart thunks into the treble-20 bed, the Ally Pally crowd begins to stir. By the time his third slams into the same spot – barely a second or so later – the sense of anticipation is palpable. Van Gerwen’s scoring has threatened to blow his opponent away but here is a sign that Smith – looking smooth and relaxed in his throw – is not going to be cowed.

Thankfully I’ve been scoring well and those crucial doubles have been going in, because on another day it could have been a different story.Taylor, sitting at a nearby table, smiles quietly. The world’s two best darts players rarely escape each other. “I see Phil more than my wife,” Van Gerwen says. “What can you do? We had 150 days of darts this year. And all the travelling and exhibitions mean I’m away 250 to 260 nights a year. You can see why I’m bald now. It’s the stress.” I love this event - I owe a lot to the Grand Slam, and hopefully it keeps being kind to me," said Smith, who is bidding to become the fourth player to retain the coveted title. The 26th staging of the World Grand Prix will see reigning champion Michael van Gerwen headlining the 32-player field, which includes World Champion Michael Smith and 2020 winner Gerwyn Price. Fantastic from Aspinall, who takes out 89 with single 19, treble 20 and double five to deny MVG a chance to finish 44 following a pressurising visits of 140, 139 and 140.

A 116 finish from Buntz was the perfect response, just as Wright appeared set to find a foothold, and the American dominated leg six to complete the biggest upset of the first day's play in Wolverhampton. However six missed doubles cost Van Gerwen the chance to level the match in the eighth leg and the Welshman took advantage to extend his lead. This really is a frightening standard from van Gerwen as scores of 120, 97, 140, 128 leave him 16, which he takes out at the first attempt for a 13 darter. He's averaging just a shade under 100 right now.Van Gerwen ends a very long wait for his third 180 to follow up visits of 120 and 140, but despite missing four darts at the outer ring, he eventually pins double nine with his last in hand to break Aspinall, who fluffed three of his own attempts.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price swept aside Nathan Rafferty 5-1 in his Group D opener, in a contest which saw the pair trade spectacular 164 and 167 combination finishes.

Nathan Aspinall 3-5 Michael van Gerwen: Leg-by-leg report, statistics and highlights

Aspinall's third 180 - which came after dropping his third dart - puts him in pole position to hold his throw and although MVG puts on pressure with his second, the Asp pinds double eight with his last dart in hand after his opponent had spurned an effort at tops.