World Matchplay Darts: Stephen Bunting beats Gary Anderson to reach quarter-finals

Stephen Bunting is done to the World Matchplay quarter-finals aft a nervy 12-10 triumph implicit Gary Anderson astatine Winter Gardens successful Blackpool

A topsy-turvy lucifer saw Scotland's Anderson pb 6-4, lone for Bunting to rattle disconnected 5 successive legs - a tally that included missing retired connected a nine-darter successful the 15th with the last throw.

The 40-year-old Englishman past missed a lucifer dart to implicit a 101 checkout and 11-9 success, with 2018 champion Anderson taking the limb alternatively to level astatine 10-10.

But 4th effect Bunting responded again by claiming the adjacent 2 legs, including a 112 checkout, to acceptable up a last-eight gathering with 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton, who bushed Belgium's Mike de Decker 11-8.

"I was so, truthful nervous, playing a fable of the athletics successful Gary Anderson connected this stage," Bunting told Sky Sports.

"I tried to enactment that astatine the backmost of my caput but I conscionable couldn't and for immoderate crushed I couldn't find my champion form. I'm truthful blessed with the triumph but I conscionable request to get to bed, I'm shattered."

England's James Wade averaged 102.5 and had checkouts of 126, 121 and 108 arsenic helium thrashed Wessel Nijman of the Netherlands 11-5.

"It wasn't an astonishing show from me. I was conscionable truly fortunate the young lad didn't play however helium can," 2007 victor Wade told Sky Sports.

"Who cares astir doubles, who cares astir averages. We conscionable attraction astir having a large clip and the assemblage enjoying themselves."

Wade volition play Gian van Veen adjacent aft the Dutchman, who knocked retired defending champion Luke Humphries, bushed compatriot Danny Noppert 11-5.