'Buntz beats Bunts' as American ace seals Last 16 spot at Grand Slam of Darts as Michael van Gerwen battles back for consecutive wins

PDC
Sunday, 12 November 2023 at 23:18
stowe buntz gsod23 2

Stowe Buntz came into the Grand Slam of Darts as the outsider in a so-called Group of Death with Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting, but the American ace is very much likely to top the group come the end of the opening phase.

Buntz saw off Peter Wright superbly on Saturday night and continued that form by defeating Stephen Bunting and thus knocking out Dave Chisnall from the reckoning in the process who will now face the CDC Continental Cup Champion.

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It was a 5-3 win for Buntz who flourished on the outer ring despite an inferior average with 50% amid an 88 average compared to 95 from 'The Bullet'. He hit a 76 checkout as his best and corrected himself superbly on his final visit to win the tie with a 56 going two single 8's and a last dart double 20. A new American star has been born and he is through to the knockout stage.

While Michael van Gerwen also basically booked his spot through coming from 3-1 down to defeat Rob Cross 5-4 including some needle as words were exchanged post match between the pair.

Van Gerwen fell behind 1-3 after Cross managed to throw a 12-darter and a 108 finish. However, 'Voltage' missed three chances at 3-1 and also missed two chances at 4-2. Van Gerwen came back to 3-3 as a result.

The lead then shifted to Van Gerwen, who threw out 60 in the seventh leg. However, Cross immediately broke back with a 12-darter for 4-4 and then got to start the last leg himself. Van Gerwen got matchdarts first, but missed two chances. Cross then missed three matchdarts himself, before Van Gerwen managed to cash in on his fourth.

Van Gerwen is now on four points in this group, leaving Martijn Kleermaker now permanently eliminated after two defeats. Fallon Sherrock and Rob Cross will decide between themselves on Tuesday who can join Van Gerwen in the second round.

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