Anastacia's close shave at Rileys

While the Grand Slam of Darts hit full swing, Anastacia Dobromyslova was close to losing to a catering assistant from the Royal Air Force base in Cosford.

'The First Lady of Darts' was at Wolverhampton's Rileys Sports Bar, Broad Street, to run 'the gauntlet' against five female players from the city, having to conquer all in a winner-stays-on format.

All proceeds from the night were to go to tonight's Children In Need appeal.

Going up against last year's Grand Slam participant were 'Team Rileys,' led by captain Michele Pritchard, from Wednesfield, of the British Legion club.

Kim Marshall, from Low Hill, throwing for Rileys and Lisa Maiden, from Eastfield, representing the Electric club, were both beaten 2-0 in best-of-three legs.

But that was until Louise Dolphin, from Penn, took to the oche.

The 30-year-old took the first leg, only for Dobromyslova to equalise with the following leg.

And Dolphin was one dart away from a famous victory over her illustrious counterpart, only for a decisive throw for double six to bounce off the wire.

'From Russia with Love' checked out to win the game.

Dobromyslova then produced a near-perfect finish to beat Nicola Brandon, from the Golden Lion club in Wednesfield, and team captain Pritchard 2-0 to win 'the gauntlet.'

But the professional darts player, the only lady to ever beat a male counterpart in the Grand Slam, enjoyed the experience.

He said: "It was great fun, it was nice to just be able to go out and play darts with no pressure for a change!

"I am always going to be a big supporter of women playing the sport, anything I can do to help I will."

Dobromyslova didn't qualify for the Grand Slam this year, losing to Stacy Bromberg in the semi-final of the PDC Womens World Championship.

Bromberg and Tricia Wright both qualified as virtue of reaching the final, only to tumble out in the first round of the Grand Slam this week.

But Dobromyslova insists it's a sign the women are getting closer.

She said: "Not too long ago women playing men was unheard of, year on year it's starting to happen now."