Phil Taylor set for grudge match with Ted Hankey

The heat gets cranked up in the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts tonight as Phil Taylor continues his defence against Stoke rival Ted Hankey.

After the drama of last year’s competition, it promises to be a tense affair. Hankey was fined £250 by the Darts Regulatory Authority for storming out after losing his temper with the boisterous crowd, something Taylor described as “terrible.”

Taylor has won 15 world championship titles – including 13 Professional Darts Corporation title since the spilt in 1994 – while Hankey has two British Darts Organisation world titles to his name. With two dominant figures from competing organisations, there is more than Potteries pride at stake.

But despite ‘The Power’ being huge favourite at 1/9 in the Ladbrokes darts betting, Hankey is convinced he can overcome Taylor.

Speaking to the Mirror, ‘The Count’ said: “It’s not a question of settling arguments about who’s the better world champion or even who’s the best darts player in the Potteries.

“The Grand Slam is all about who can deliver the goods in a long tournament format – there is always someone from Stoke involved in the mix.”

Hankey is out at 5/1 in the darts betting and will have to perform better than he did in his opening Group H game in which he overcame Wes Newton 5-3 in a tight affair.

Taylor – who is at favourite in the darts betting at 4/9 for both the Grand Slam of Darts and the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship – was solid in his opening game, beating Michael van Gerwen 5-1. However, ‘The Power’ did miss 17 doubles, giving Hankey more than a glimmer of hope for this clash.

Could Hankey upset the darts betting odds? Click here to back him at 5/1 to beat Taylor.