SMITH SEES OFF BUNTING! 🏴 Michael Smith secures his spot in a third World Championship semi-final, coming through an absolute battle with Stephen Bunting, seeing out a 5-3 victory! #WCDarts | QF 📺 bit.ly/WC23Live
Smith staves off late comeback from Bunting to reach semi-finals of PDC World Darts Championship
PDCSunday, 01 January 2023 at 17:26
Michael Smith was seemingly cruising to victory at the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship but had to survive a spirited comeback in the end against Stephen Bunting.
Smith sealed a 5-3 win for a spot in his third semi-final at the Alexandra Palace with six 180's and 47% on the outer ring with Bunting hitting 14 maximums in defeat.
The opening set went all the way to a decider but having the throw, Smith pinned 48 to seal it on double four and go 1-0 up in sets.
A 78 checkout saw Bunting stave off Smith pressure to hold. He swept the set from there to make it 1-1 with a 160 checkout.
After going 1-0 down and surviving darts for 2-0, Smith went one away from 2-1 in sets and he pinned it with a 61 checkout.
Bunting missed 131 for the lead in the fourth set but returned for double 16. He couldn’t send it the distance missing a break chance and Smith sealed the set to go 3-1 up with Bunting not sealing it despite averaging over 111. A 70 checkout saw Smith double his lead and go one away from the win.
Smith missed darts for 4-1 in sets but returned for double two. Bunting went 2-0 up in the next set breaking after missed darts from Smith.
A 180 and 44 checkout saw Bunting go 4-2 down in sets. He hit his tenth 180 and an 81 checkout on double 13 to break. He missed two darts and slipped into double five for a hold but Smith missed two from 80 and Bunting returned.
Double four was missed by Bunting from there and Smith made it all square. Bunting missed 104 for a break but returned with Smith way back and took a 2-1 legs lead. He was throwing for 4-3 in sets which he sealed on double eight.
Bunting missed 160 for a hold and Smith hit with a double 18 to break. He went one away with an 82 checkout to go 2-0 up.
Smith drifted into treble 10 going for 145 and Bunting hit double eight. He hit a 14th 180 and returned for 2-2 with Smith missing a match dart. But he somehow found a way with Bunting missing darts for 2-2.
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- They really are going through an insipid spell - at present.MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024