BDO World Darts: Stephen Bunting eases into quarter-finals

BDO WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Venue: Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green
  • Date: 4-12 January

Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button, Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app

Number one seed Stephen Bunting put in an imperious display to reach the quarter-finals of the BDO World Darts Championships.

The 28-year-old from St Helens dropped only one leg in his 4-0 win against Dave Prins, averaging 100.64.

It is only the second time in seven Lakeside appearances that Bunting has made it through to the last eight.

Fellow Englishmen Robbie Green and Tony Eccles also booked last-eight spots in Wednesday's afternoon session.

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“I've got to keep myself mentally right and hopefully I can go all the way”

Stephen Bunting

Fourth seed Green came through 4-1 against Gary Robson, while Eccles celebrated his 44th birthday by knocking out 12th seed Wesley Harms 4-3.

But Bunting was the star of the show on the fifth afternoon at Frimley Green, producing the form that saw him win eight BDO titles in 2013 and posting the highest three-dart average of the tournament so far.

He broke the throw in the first leg of the match, and although Hartlepool left-hander Prins responded with a 12-darter, the world number one went on to claim the first set and needed just 39 darts in total to win the second.

Despite a slight dip late on, Bunting closed out the match in style with a maximum 180 and a successful shot at double top.

"I know how good my form's been," he told BBC Sport. "I wanted to get that 100 average and make myself the player to beat.

"There are a lot of good players still left in the tournament that are capable of hitting that sort of average and beating me. I've got to keep myself mentally right and hopefully I can go all the way."

Speaking after his defeat, Prins said: "I tried my best but Stephen never let up at all. He was amazing. That's why he's world number one."

In the day's first encounter, Green hit a magnificent 167 checkout - the highest outshot of the week so far - to take the first set with a 12-dart leg.

It was a lead that the 39-year-old did not relinquish against Northumberland's Robson, who missed an excellent chance to level at 2-2.

With 25 points left to win the fourth set, Robson hit treble nine instead of the single with his first dart to bust his score.

"That was a killer," said Green, who will face Harms in the last eight. "I've done it many times and I felt for Gary.

"It was frustrating because I didn't feel like I played as well as I can. I'm just grateful I'm through."

Harms, a semi-finalist in 2012 and 2013, and Hartlepool's Eccles shared the first four sets.

The 29-year-old Dutchman took a crucial fifth set and looked certain for victory, only for Eccles to land a stunning 122 checkout to send it into a decider.

And the birthday boy maintained the momentum to reach the last eight for the second time in his career.

Second seed James Wilson and Alan Norris, who beat defending champion Scott Waites in round one, were among those in second-round action later on Wednesday.