The legend grows for Anastasia

A petite figure in a male-orientated jungle of a sport, once again the little Russian failed to make it past the group stages as the competition ploughed on without her.

But, after becoming the first female to play in the three-year-old competition last year, Dobromyslova left the city with another record to her ever-growing name.

Vincent van der Voort was the unfortunate victim last Sunday, as the Dutchman was edged out 5-4 in one of the most famous results in darts history.

He became only the second man to fall to the fairer sex in major televised competition since Deta Hedman defeated Aaron Turner and Norman Fletcher in the 2005 UK Open.

Whatever happened after that, the legend had grown for 'From Russia with Love.'

She said: "It's personal, for me I am playing for all ladies and showing the world that we can do a good job as darts players. There is no reason why not, there is no physical barrier.

"There is pressure, you have to travel a lot and play against really good players to get your game up. Unfortunately I finished bottom of the group again, but I played better this tournament than last year.

"I love Wolverhampton, it's a great place to play and I have made some great friends here."

Dobromyslova came into the male arena as a women's world champion in 2008, after ending a seven-year reign of Trina Gulliver in the final. But it was always her intention to mix it with the big boys - although not all were welcoming.

She failed to gain membership to the BDO or WDF, before joining the PDC circuit and playing at the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton later that year.

Her example - she started to play darts aged 11 in a country where it's hardly the national sport - is bound to inspire others, and at age 25 there is plenty of attitudes that can be changed yet.

She said: "As I stand here now, I just think 'wow, look what I have done' but looking back it was hard. You can't just wake up one day and say 'right, I am going to play professional darts with the men' because it's not that easy. I have had to work really, really hard for it.

"If people remember me in 20 years as a pioneer for mixed professional darts, that would be nice. I hope so."

But most of the male species in the sport have been welcoming to their new rival, and it appears the all-important sponsors are starting to follow suit.

She has just been appointed as the face of Rileys' new darts venture, as the snooker hall operator makes a serious play for top-class facilities at their 128 clubs nationwide. The Wolverhampton base, on Broad Street in the city centre, has been done and dusted for a while now.

They join the likes of Unicorn and Ladbrokes with their backing, as Dobromyslova fast becomes one of the biggest names in the sport.

And that, the lady explains, is half the battle.

She said: "If I didn't have my sponsors such as Rileys, I wouldn't be able to play at this level, because it is so expensive. Maybe the more ladies that come through companies will look at us, you never know."

Dobromyslova now leaves the city hoping to be back for year's event but it will be tougher than ever, as she will have to qualify along with everyone else next year after two years as an invitational player.

Everyone is equal on the road to Wolverhampton, as the Tver-born star explains.

She said: "My goal next year is to build on what I have already done, and make the knockout rounds of the Grand Slam this time. But next year I will really be equal, I will have to qualify like everyone else and that is tough for any player."

Anastasia Dobromyslova was talking to Craig Birch in the Darts Zone at Rileys Bar, Broad Street, Wolverhampton.