Russian wildcard angers Bristow

Former world champion Eric Bristow has slated the decision by the Professional Darts Corporation to hand a wildcard to female player Anastasia Dobromyslova.

Russian Dobromyslova is the reigning BDO women's world champion and the PDC World Championships begin on Friday.

Bristow told BBC London 94.9: "There are a lot of top players who are not very happy about it.

"They are paying a lot of money to travel around the world and she's just been invited."

Five-times British Darts Organisation world title winner Bristow added: "I feel so sorry for Trina Gulliver who won the women's world title seven years in a row. The year she loses it we invite the winner over.

"If Anastasia wants to join the PDC, travel the world earning ranking points and earn her way through then we could have five women in it next year and no-one could complain.

"I don't think she's that good to be honest. People are saying she's the best woman player ever but Maureen [Flowers] would have killed her, Deta Hedman would have murdered her and Trina Gulliver has been a great ambassador."

Dobromyslova has been drawn against Remco van Eijden in the preliminary round at Alexandra Palace, Phil Taylor is odds-on favourite to win his 14th world crown.