Stephen Bunting battles past Gary Anderson in World Matchplay thriller
It took a while for both players to shift into a gear as doubles proved troublesome for the pair throughout the match, which went beyond the allotted 21 legs.
The contest went back and forth but Bunting, who also missed double 12 for a nine-darter, chalked off five straight legs to make it 9-6 and it looked like he would go on to seal a comfortable victory.
However, Anderson survived match darts as he fought back to make it a level game but Bunting finally got the job done to win by two clear legs and seal the win.
Both players averaged less than 30% on checkouts which made for darting drama and Bunting admitted to being nervous on stage.
BUNTING HAS DONE IT!
Stephen Bunting takes out 112 for the match!
The Bullet comes through an epic tie-break with Gary Anderson!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/ka7dtRv3C6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 22, 2025
After the match, he told Sky Sports: "He's a quality operator. One of the best players to grace the stage and I have nothing but respect for Gary Anderson, and what a win in my career.
"I felt nervous anyway. I've got (son) Theo with me tonight, Toby, the missus, but we're through and I can relax now.
"I feel great and playing the best darts of my life and enjoying being in Blackpool – the fans have been incredible."
James Wade produced a vintage performance as he swept Matchplay debutant Wessel Nijman aside in an 11-5 win.
There was nothing to separate the two players through the opening six legs but Wade jumped all over the young Dutchman's mistakes as he started to race clear.
The game started to turn when Wade brilliantly hit back-to-back bullseye finishes to go 8-4 up with his third ton-plus finish of the match.
That was in the middle of five straight legs that Wade put together to go within a leg of victory and the Machine pinned double tops to wrap up an impressive win.
WADE WALLOPS NIJMAN!
Another dominant display from James Wade, who averages over 102 to complete an 11-5 thumping of Wessel Nijman!
The 2007 champion is loving life in Blackpool this week!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/T393XRO4LD
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 22, 2025
Gian van Veen reeled off seven straight legs on his way to a thumping 11-5 victory over Danny Noppert.
Noppert started on fire and jumped 2-0 ahead but his Dutch compatriot shifted into top gear and went into the second break with a 7-3 lead which Noppert could not bounce back from.
Van Veen, who surprisingly knocked out Luke Humphries in the first round, threw four 180s and averaged just under 95 to book his spot in the quarter-finals.
Jonny Clayton continued his good run of form with an 11-8 win over Mike de Decker.
The Ferret threw nine 180s and never went behind in the contest but held off a couple of De Decker fightbacks to see him through safely to the quarter-finals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Lions fans poke fun at Australian commentary following Hugo Keenan winner
British and Irish Lions fans were happy to poke fun at Australian commentary after Hugo Keenan scored a last-gasp try to snatch a series victory for the tourists. Behind all game and, at one point, trailing 23-5, the Lions battled back in an epic in front of 90,000 people in Melbourne. The only time they led was when Keenan went over the try line at the death to win the series. However, referee Andrea Piardi spent time mulling over a clearout from Jac Morgan in the build-up to the try but eventually decided there was no foul play, thus giving the Lions victory and an unassailable series lead. Such is the partisan nature of the tour, Sky Sports commentary were jubilant with the victory, while Ronan O'Gara said he didn't see anything in the clear out worthy of foul play when mulling over the decision. In Australia, however, with the series lost, they viewed the Morgan play as a bit more contentious "A bloke has his nose 6cm off the floor, legal clear out, no direct head contact. Come on lads," said one social media user of the Australian. "This Aussie commentators whining about the ref not awarding a penalty," said another. "Listening to the Aussie commentary is incredible, absolutely begging it as a penalty," said another. However, it is worth noting there was plenty on social media who thought Australia should have been awarded a penalty. The Lions would win the game 29-26 in a clash for the ages and now they will be looking to complete the clean sweep next a game to spare, the Lions won their first series since 2013 and now eye a whitewash that would be a unique achievement in the professional era. "Wow, it was never in doubt, was it? Amazing, the occasion. The fans all deserve this, a grand slam finish like that," Andy Farrell told Sky Sports after the game. "It weren't too great in the first half, how we started, very costly on the scoreboard. We found a way to get back in the game and take it to them in the second half. "What a finish! I was screaming 'pass it, pass it' to Hugo, but he was never going to pass it. "When we was able to build pressure we was rolling pretty nicely."
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Emotional Tadhg Furlong he ‘doesn't want it to end' after series win vs Australia that is ‘closing book on Lions career'
TADHG FURLONG admitted "I don't want it to end" after the Lions sealed a sensational Test series victory over Australia. Advertisement 2 The Lions beat Australia to win the Test series with a game to spare Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 Tadhg Furlong had an emotional interview with Sky Sports afterwards It was Furlong's third tour with the Lions, having featured in 2017 and 2021. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Leinster prop admitted this summer 's tour may well be his last. And it is for that reason that he doesn't want it to end. The 32-year-old commented: "It is a little bit emotional. Advertisement Read More on Lions "The Lions has played a massive part in my career. Not so much me as a person but definitely as a rugby player. "It's shaped the way I play the game or think about the game. It's a mad one. "I know this Lions tour is going to be me kind of closing the book on the Lions and I don't want it to end. "It's a great group. It's a special thing being a Lion. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "We have a week left to enjoy it but I don't want it to end, as much as I want to go home and see my family ." Compared to their straightforward win in the opening Test, the Lions had to work hard to take the second and the Test series outright. Australia 26 British and Irish Lions 29- Historic Test series whitewash on the cards as Lions complete epic comeback While Australia bounced back to race into a 23-5 lead. An enthralling opening half concluded with Tom Curry and Huw Jones touching down to peg the lead back to 23-17 at the break. Advertisement And further tries from Ireland duo Head coach "We started with back-to-back penalties and yellow cards, and it really cost us on the scoreboard. "But we found a way back into the game, and that gave us confidence heading into the second half. And, wow - what a finish! Advertisement "When we were able to build pressure, we rolled pretty nicely. Every time we got into the 22, we came away with something. "We had solid belief at half-time and knew we could win if we controlled our discipline." And Keenan said: "You don't really think of these things - with my try-scoring record , I was probably the least likely! "I'm absolutely delighted. It came off the back of countless phases of hard work from the lads. Advertisement "It was a pretty cool moment - one I'll definitely savour."
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Life after Christian Horner begins with sprint win for Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen won the first Formula One race staged following Christian Horner's dismissal as Red Bull team principal in Saturday's sprint race in Belgium. Eighteen days after Horner was told his two-decade reign was over, Verstappen claimed the Red Bull's first win of any sort since he raced to victory in Imola on 18 May. Verstappen started second, but batted aside pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on the opening lap before keeping the world championship leader at bay. Verstappen crossed the line in Spa-Francorchamps just 0.753 seconds clear of Piastri. Lando Norris started third and finished in the same position to allow Piastri to extend his title lead from eight points to nine ahead of qualifying later today for Sunday's main event. Horner's dramatic exit from Red Bull after 20 years in charge stunned the sporting world, and the Belgian Grand Prix marks the first F1 event in 406 races where he has been watching on from his sofa rather than from the Red Bull pit wall. Verstappen split the McLaren drivers in qualifying to join Piastri on the front row. Piastri started well to keep Verstappen behind on the short run to La Source only for the Dutchman – armed with a low-downforce rear wing to provide greater speed up through Eau Rouge and on to the Kemmel Straight – to jink to his left and sail past Piastri under braking for Les Combes. Further back and Norris – a distant six tenths behind Piastri in qualifying – was perhaps too timid on his brakes into the same corner, and lost out to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, relegating him to fourth. On lap four, Norris cleared Leclerc to regain third spot, and by lap 10 he was within half-a-second of team-mate Piastri – the top three covered by a little more than a second. With four laps to go, Piastri was closer than he had ever been and Verstappen was forced to cover off the racing line under braking for Les Combes. However, that would be the closest Piastri would get to the Red Bull as the four-time world champion delivered Laurent Mekies' first win in charge of Red Bull with Norris only six tenths back from his McLaren team-mate. Leclerc took fourth spot, one place ahead of Haas' Esteban Ocon with Williams driver Carlos Sainz sixth and British rookie Ollie Bearman an impressive seventh. George Russell started a lowly 13th and improved one place to 12th, while Lewis Hamilton finished 15th of the 19 who took the flag – making up just three positions after he spun in qualifying.
