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.
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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.
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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.
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