Van Gerwen dodges Bunting scare to set up Quarter-Final showdown with Dobey at World Grand Prix

Michael van Gerwen is through to the Quarter-Finals of the World Grand Prix after surviving a scare against Stephen Bunting in a 3-2 win for the five-time champion.

Van Gerwen dug deep to set up a showdown with Chris Dobey who also has a poor record against the Dutch ace. Stats wise, it was a 94.3 average, six 180's and a high checkout of 150.

Van Gerwen missed two chances to break and Bunting hit double 10 to hold. MVG responded with an 82 checkout to make it 1-1 and broke to go one away from a 1-0 sets lead.

Bunting pounced though with a 102 checkout after Van Gerwen missed set darts. Van Gerwen missed the bull for an 86 checkout and further darts on double eight which allowed ‘The Bullet’ to pin double 16 with a 48 checkout.

Van Gerwen missed two darts to break but was not punished and MVG went one away from 1-1 in sets. A 46 checkout saw him seal it.

Van Gerwen hit a 150 checkout en route to six legs in a row as he went 2-1 up. It was seven legs on the spin as he held at 1-0.

Bunting snapped a streak of legs as he hit a 44 checkout to make it 1-1 and after Van Gerwen missed opportunities to hold, Bunting went one away from making it 2-2.

But MVG broke on double eight to go one away from victory. Bunting hit a 180 though and ‘The Bullet’ hit a 54 checkout to make it 2-2 in sets.

Bunting hit a 180 but MVG hit back-to-back 180’s to leave 101. The former missed 96 though to hold and MVG broke to go 1-0 up before going one away again on double eight. A 90 checkout on bull saw Bunting go 2-1 down but a 65 checkout saw MVG seal it.