Price wins seven straight legs to steamroll Bunting in World Matchplay opening round

The opening night of the 2023 World Matchplay keeps rolling on and Gerwyn Price is the latest man to safely secure progression to the second round, courtesy of a 10-3 win over Stephen Bunting.

A losing finalist twelve months ago, Gerwyn Price got his campaign underway against the former Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting. In front of a typically fervent Winter Gardens crowd, it was Bunting who started the brighter, taking the opening leg with a break of throw.

Nailing a 70 checkout to hold throw in the second, Bunting was two ahead. After missing a dart at tops for a third straight leg, Price finally got off the mark on double 5, roaring with relief in celebration. After levelling up a 2-2 Price then went seven perfect darts in the fifth leg, before returning to mop up and take the lead 3-2 at the first break.

Firing back after the break, Bunting came firing back, taking the first leg of the session, stopping the rot and getting back on level terms. Price though was playing some scintillating stuff and courtesy of double top in the 7th leg and double 10 in the 8th, the Welshman was soon 5-3 up. Some more quality darts followed from the 'Iceman' and the players went off for the second break with the score 7-3.

The momentum continued to be on the side of Price after the interval as he stretched his lead to five legs. Both players then missed opportunities in the 12th leg before Price finally snatched it on double one for his sixth straight leg to move just one away from the win. Taking that leg at the first time of asking, Price nailed 80 for the win.