Latest news with #StephenBunting
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
World Matchplay Darts: Full Tuesday schedule as Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting clash
James Wade and Luke Humphries' slayer are also on a tasty Tuesday card in Blackpool for the second biggest tournament in the sport In-form Gary Anderson is back and firing as he looks to win a second Betfred World Matchplay title. The Scottish star goes head-to-head with Stephen Bunting in a brilliant second-round tie which headlines Tuesday's darts action. Anderson has this week already hit out at the "boring" young darts stars who lack the banter of the big beasts from yesteryear. But back to the action. Blackpool has already seen some major names go out of the £800,000 event with Luke Humphries ' first-game exit a stunner. Seeds such as Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall have followed Cool Hand out of the door leaving Luke Littler as the strong title favourite. Tuesday four ties sees multiple World Champions take to the stage and Record Sport takes you through the quartet of crackerjack encounters. Sit back, strap yourselves in and enjoy! SCHEDULE OF PLAY (7PM) Gian Van Veen vs Danny Noppert Van Veen dethroned reigning champion Humphries on the opening night. The World No.1 was bidding to become the fourth player in World Matchplay history to retain the iconic Phil Taylor Trophy, but the young Dutchman had too many guns and an out a 10-8 winner to register his first victory at the venue. Noppert had an easier passage as he dispatched an out-of-sorts Cameron Menzies, racing into a 7-0 lead before wrapping up a comprehensive 10-2 success. The pair were partners for Netheherlands at last month's World Cup. Wessel Nijman v James Wade Nijman delivered a nerveless display on his World Matchplay debut fending off a valiant mid-game fightback from Nathan Aspinall. The Dutch kid's surprise win over the Stockport star set-up a huge clash with 2007 champion Wade, who reaffirmed his title credentials in a 10-3 demolition of 2023 semi-finalist Joe Cullen. Wade, featuring in his 20th consecutive World Matchplay campaign, recorded his highest ever average on the Winter Gardens stage averaging almost 105. Stephen Bunting vs Gary Anderson Anderson made a sprint for the finish in his clash against Luke Woodhouse rattling off five legs on the spin from 5-5 to set up a blockbuster showdown with fourth seed Bunting. The Scotsman struggled for fluency in the opening exchanges, although he produced a masterclass on the outer ring, pinning 67 percent of his attempts at double to get his title tilt underway. Bunting, who overcame a sluggish start to see off Ryan Joyce for the second straight year in round one. The Scouser required a tie-break to topple Joyce 12 months ago, but, despite surrendering an 8-4 cushion, the World No.4 responded with a brilliant 11-darter to advance. Jonny Clayton vs Mike De Decker Clayton, who was runner-up in 2023, defied a 103 average from Martin Schindler to extend the German's winless run in Blackpool, rounding off a clinical display to wrap up a 10-7 success. De Decker celebrated his first victory on the Winter Gardens stage converting back-to-back 104 and 148 checkouts to complete a 10-7 victory over five-time quarter-finalist Chisnall. The World Grand Prix champion trailed 7-6 at one stage before rattling off four successive legs to set up his meeting with fifth-seed Clayton. Remaining schedule Wednesday July 23 (7pm) Second Round x4 - Match Order TBC Littler v Wattimena Gilding v Van Duijvenbode Van Gerwen v Rock Dobey v Price Thursday July 24 (8pm) Quarter-Finals x2 Friday July 25 (8pm) Quarter-Finals x2 Saturday July 26 (8pm) Semi-Finals Sunday July 27 Afternoon Session (1pm) Betfred Women's World Matchplay Quarter-Finals Beau Greaves v Kirsi Viinikainen Lisa Ashton v Robyn Byrne Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Lorraine Winstanley Fallon Sherrock v Gemma Hayter Semi-Finals Greaves/Viinikainen v Ashton/Byrne Van Leuven/Winstanley v Sherrock/Hayter Final Evening Session (8pm) Betfred World Matchplay Final WHERE TO WATCH: The Betfred World Matchplay will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I'm awkward… I don't fit the mould' – James Wade slams darts chiefs and says he's ‘crushed' by Premier League snub
JAMES WADE says he feels 'like a lemon' being left out of the Premier League, but will keep working hard to be part of it. 'The Machine' recently moved up three places in the Professional Darts Corporation's Order of Merit to No.5, meaning he is one spot away from being automatically included in next year's Premier League with the rest of the top four. 3 3 3 The 2009 Premier League winner hasn't competed in the tournament since the 2022 edition, which saw him finish third. Fellow Englishman Stephen Bunting is currently fourth in the PDC rankings, and after a strong first round showing at the World Matchplay by beating Joe Cullen 10-3 while averaging 104.44, Wade's form suggests he could push to overtake him. However, 'exhausted' Wade has joked the PDC would 'change the qualification gaps' to stop him playing in the Premier League. He said: "I think I've paid enough dues, and I think I've done enough things, and I think I've given enough of my life to the PDC that I'd like to get those rewards. "But I don't think that'd ever happen to me. I think if I was to get back into the top four things would change with the qualification gaps. "I just think it would change. I'm not what they need and I'm not probably what they want, but I want to be there a hundred percent.' After the top four automatically qualify, the rest of the players are selected by Sky Sports and the PDC and assessed on marketability and popularity. And Wade puts him being left out for the last three years on him being 'awkward.' BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Asked for his theory on his exclusion, he said: 'Because I'm awkward. I'm an awkward character. I probably don't say the right things at the right times. "If I was great at saying the right things at the right time, I probably would've been in all the World Series the last 12 months. But I don't quite fit into that mould. "There's other players that do manage to get those things and unfortunately, I don't. I'd love to travel the world. I've been doing it for 25 years. "Do you not think I want to travel the world? Do you not think I want to represent the PDC? Do you not think I want my children and my wife to see me do great things? 'If anything, it crushes me. It crushes me. Why wouldn't it crush me? I'm perhaps not getting what I maybe could have got. So, it's exhausting not to be in that. "But I'll keep trying as hard as I can. I want to be in it all. I want to be part of it all. Of course, I do because when you're not in it, you feel like a lemon.' Wade next faces Wessel Nijman in round two in Blackpool.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luke Littler hammers Ryan Searle on World Matchplay debut
Luke Littler stormed through to the second round of his debut World Matchplay with a 10-2 rout of Ryan Searle. Littler, the second seed on his first appearance at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, looked like a man in a hurry as he jumped out to a 6-0 lead. And although Searle was able to get on the board late on, there was never going to be any way back against Littler, who averaged nearly 109. 'I was well up for tonight,' Littler said on Sky Sports. 'I wanted that win, to get that winning feeling and I've done it in some standard.' After revealing earlier this week he had failed his driving theory test for a fourth time, Littler said he has not been doing his homework for that as he has been keeping his focus on his game, adding: 'I've got a competition to focus on.' 'I've been practising so much,' he said. 'Obviously I've not put much on social media but I've been at home putting the hours in, hours and hours, and I'm glad it's paid off tonight.' World number four Stephen Bunting survived a dogfight with Ryan Joyce to advance with a 10-8 victory. Joyce came from 8-4 down to level the contest at 8-8 when Bunting appeared to be distracted while looking to close out from 45, and was then a whisker away from going 9-8 up as he narrowly missed double five. Bunting responded with a 180 and then checked out from 41 to secure his progress, but could not hide his frustration. 'I'm so disappointed,' he said. 'We had a battle last year. Thankfully I've not gone the distance this year and I've saved a bit of energy for the next round. We go on, we're in the next round.' Fifth seed Jonny Clayton survived a tough contest against Martin Schindler to prevail 10-7, despite the German putting up better numbers for much of the contest. Clayton's average was 99.60 compared to Schindler's 103.45 but the Welshman picked his moments to advance. 'I am here, I want to win this tournament,' Clayton said. 'Hopefully it is going to be my week. I love it when I pass the first round.' Earlier 13th seed Gary Anderson saw off Luke Woodhouse 10-5 despite a spectacular 167 checkout from the Englishman. Four seeds were sent home during Sunday's afternoon session as further shocks followed Saturday's exits of top seed Luke Humphries and eighth seed Nathan Aspinall. Seventh seed Damon Heta fell to Andrew Gilding in a contest that went to overtime, with Gilding eventually prevailing 12-10 after a late fightback came to nothing for Heta. Gilding advances to face Dirk van Duijvenbode, who saw off 10th seed Rob Cross 10-8 after rallying from 6-2 down in a remarkable contest. Jermaine Wattimena beat 15th seed Peter Wright 10-8 while Mike De Decker beat 12th seed Dave Chisnall 10-7.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
World Matchplay Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler in action TONIGHT after Humphries and Aspinall CRASH OUT
THE World Matchplay has arrived in Blackpool for nine thrilling nights of darts at the iconic Winter Gardens - with Luke Littler in action TONIGHT! World champion Littler gets his campaign underway against Ryan Searle before Stephen Bunting's clash with Ryan Joyce closes the show. James Wade booked his place in the second round on the opening night, after a comfortable 10-3 win over Joe Cullen. But there will certainly be a new champion as Luke Humphries CRASHED OUT of the World Matchplay Darts in the first round against Gian Van Veen. Nathan Aspinall is also out and in an afternoon session full of shocks, FOUR seeded players - including Rob Cross and and Peter Wright also lost.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
World Matchplay Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler in action later after Humphries and Aspinall crash OUT
THE World Matchplay has arrived in Blackpool for nine thrilling nights of darts at the iconic Winter Gardens! Luke Littler gets his campaign underway against Ryan Searle before Stephen Bunting's clash with Ryan Joyce closes the show. James Wade booked his place in the second round on the opening night, after a comfortable 10-3 win over Joe Cullen. But they'll certainly be a new champion as Luke Humphries CRASHED OUT of the World Matchplay Darts in the first round against Gian Van Veen. Nathan Aspinall is also out, after losing to Wessel Nijman.
