Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey will return to World Series of Darts and Premier League Darts action this year and have shown already at the Bahrain Darts Masters that they are worthy of their picks.
Bunting faced off against Nitin Kumar who has previously appeared at the World Darts Championship a few times and is the premier player from India. He also lives in the Middle East so won't have far to go home.
It was a simple win for 'The Bullet' who has emerged as a real fans favourite ahead of his World Series return. He showcased no rust from the World Championship as his doubling in particular over the 6-2 win was deadly.
He hit 6/8 on the outer ring and high checkouts of 145 and 122 as he moves through. We will also get a tie that we will likely get a number of times during the Premier League as he now faces Chris Dobey.
Dobey also gets new found status with his Premier League pick and return after a year out and he too has made the most of it. He was even more emphatic as he took down Basem Mahmood.
Mahmood has shown himself to be a quality operator in the past and is a staple of Bahrain's World Cup of Darts team. But there was no such heroics today in front of his home crowd with the first whitewash recorded. He was defeated 6-0 by 'Hollywood' who like his next opponent in Bunting was superb on doubles.
He hit 6/8 in claiming the win with four 180's also showing a deft touch also on both scoring and doubles. The two standout displays thus far in Sakhir.
Next up is what could be the final as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will open their accounts in Bahrain before Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall end the night.
DOBEY DOMINATES MAHMOOD!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 16, 2025
Chris Dobey marches into the Quarter-Finals with a straight legs victory over Basem Mahmood.
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