MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is aiming to create another slice of history at the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts next week, as he prepares to open his title defence on Saturday against Martin Adams in Wolverhampton.
The Dutch star claimed his first Grand Slam triumph 12 months ago with a 16-13 comeback win over six-time champion Phil Taylor, erasing the memory of his defeat in the 2012 final to Raymond van Barneveld.
That 2015 win for van Gerwen came during a golden spell of big wins, and the world number one enters this year's Grand Slam having won the last three televised titles, at the World Grand Prix, European Championship and World Series of Darts Finals.
Should he go on to retain the Grand Slam title on Sunday November 20 following the nine days of action in Wolverhampton, van Gerwen would emulate Taylor as only the second player to keep hold of the prestigious Grand Slam trophy.
"It was a big moment for me to win last year because it was the only big tournament I hadn't won at that time," said van Gerwen. "The only success for me next week is keeping hold of my title.
"I'm looking forward to the tournament and there will be some interesting matches but I always know now that if I play my best game then I have a very big chance to win it.
"I'm focused and I'm feeling confident, and I know I'm playing well but I'll just make sure I focus on each match and that means preparing for Martin Adams first because he's a great player."
Adams had won through to the second round on his Grand Slam debut last year before losing narrowly to Kim Huybrechts, and said: "I had a great time last year and I hope I have as much fun this time around.
"It's all about how we perform on the day, and I'll give it my best shot and go up there to enjoy myself."
Van Gerwen and Adams are joined in Group A by Northern Ireland's former World Grand Prix champion Brendan Dolan and Germany's former World Youth Champion Max Hopp.
Saturday's opening day sees all eight groups competing in their opening matches, with six-time Grand Slam of Darts champion Taylor joined in Group D by BDO World Trophy winner Darryl Fitton and PDC counterparts Ian White and Darren Webster.
"Wolverhampton's been a great venue for me in the past and I'm looking forward to this week," said Taylor. "I've been playing well and it will be good to play Darryl on Saturday - I've known him a long time and he's a very good player."
Reigning PDC World Champion Gary Anderson, the 2011 Grand Slam runner-up, will face BDO number one Glen Durrant as the Middlesbrough ace makes his debut at the Wolves Civic, with Alan Norris meeting Nathan Derry in the other Group E game.
Two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis takes on 2015 Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell in Group H, with Holland's Benito van de Pas taking on Bedlington's Chris Dobey in the other contest.
Two other former Grand Slam of Darts champions, Scott Waites and Raymond van Barneveld, are in action during Saturday's afternoon session.
2012 winner van Barneveld meets Stockport youngster Nathan Aspinall in Group F, where Austria's Mensur Suljovic takes on Dutchman Danny Noppert.
Reigning Lakeside Champion Waites, meanwhile, opens his bid to emulate his 2010 Wolves Civic triumph against Robert Thornton in Group B, which also sees Wales' Gerwyn Price taking on Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh.
2010 runner-up James Wade begins his Group G challenge against Tipton's Jamie Hughes, the BDO qualifier who has been boosted ahead of his Grand Slam debut with the birth of his daughter on Friday.
Group G's other fixture sees former BDO number one James Wilson up against Dave Chisnall, the 2014 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up who hit a nine-darter at the Wolves Civic last year.
Peter Wright, last weekend's World Series of Darts Finals runner-up to van Gerwen, opens in Group C against Canada's Jeff Smith, the Lakeside Championship finalist, while Simon Whitlock takes on debutant Ted Evetts, a 19-year-old chef from Warwickshire who is making his televised debut.
Van Gerwen is the 8/11 pre-tournament favourite with Sun Bets, the official betting partner of the 2016 SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts who also have a special sign-up offer available until 7pm on Saturday of 12/1 for van Gerwen to win the title!
Taylor and Anderson are 6/1 joint second favourites with Sun Bets, with Wright and Lewis rated 20/1 chances and the trio of Wade, Chisnall and Thornton all 25/1. Durrant's 50/1 is the best price on a BDO player to take the title, with Waites 66/1 for a second Grand Slam win.
Tickets for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased by calling 0870 320 7000 or online at www.theticketfactory.com/PDC.
SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 12
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Groups B-C-F-G First Matches
Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh (B)
Simon Whitlock v Ted Evetts (C)
Dave Chisnall v James Wilson (G)
Mensur Suljovic v Danny Noppert (F)
Robert Thornton v Scott Waites (B)
Raymond van Barneveld v Nathan Aspinall (F)
James Wade v Jamie Hughes (G)
Peter Wright v Jeff Smith (C)
Evening Session (7.30pm)
Groups A-D-E-H First Matches
Brendan Dolan v Max Hopp (A)
Alan Norris v Nathan Derry (E)
Ian White v Darren Webster (D)
Benito van de Pas v Chris Dobey (H)
Phil Taylor v Darryl Fitton (D)
Gary Anderson v Glen Durrant (E)
Michael van Gerwen v Martin Adams (A)
Adrian Lewis v Scott Mitchell (H)
All games are the best of nine legs
Sun Bets Odds
Outright Winner
8/11 Michael van Gerwen
6/1 Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor
20/1 Peter Wright, Adrian Lewis
25/1 James Wade, Robert Thornton, Dave Chisnall
33/1 Raymond van Barneveld, Mensur Suljovic
50/1 Glen Durrant
66/1 Brendan Dolan, Scott Waites, Ian White, Benito van de Pas, Simon Whitlock
80/1 Gerwyn Price, Alan Norris
100/1 Darren Webster, Nathan Aspinall, Jamie Hughes, Danny Noppert, Martin Adams, Max Hopp, Darryl Fitton, James Wilson, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Chris Dobey, Nathan Derry, Ted Evetts, Jeff Smith, Scott Mitchell
Odds correct at time of writing and courtesy www.sunbets.co.uk. Subject to fluctuation.