World Number One and World Champion, Luke Humphries was given a real test against Stephen Bunting with the favourite for the World Matchplay given a real test before surging ahead towards the finishing line.
Humphries averaged 102, hit four 180's and despite missing 17 darts at a double, he managed to find a late surge to prevail over 'The Bullet'. Jonny Clayton or Dimitri van den Bergh await next.
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Humphries and Bunting both missed huge ton plus checkouts on the bull at 2-1 before Bunting finally cleaned up double four for 2-2. Humphries hit his first 180 averaging 112 in the early reckoning. He hit missed 128 for 3-2 but returned for double two to head into the break leading.
Bunting returned from the break pinning double eight for 3-3. But he produced an epic salvo of 126 on the bull for the first break of the match at 4-3. But Humphries broke straight back on double 12.
Humphries missed 119 on double 13 to hold and Bunting took aim at another break. But ‘The Bullet’ drifted into double 15 looking for double 10 and the former returned to go 5-4 up. Bunting missed 70 for a hold but Humphries could not pounce on 79 and ‘The Bullet’ returned for 5-5. Bunting broke with a 76 checkout for 6-5.
Missed darts continued as Humphries broke back for 6-6 after Bunting had missed a chance for 7-5. Humphries missed 130 but Bunting missed 128 and Humphries went 7-6 up. Humphries missed double 11 again this time for 8-6 but returned with 133 going begging for Bunting. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ got daylight at 8-6.
But Bunting wasn’t done. He hit 72 for 8-7 down to break back. Humphries missed 170 for 10-7 but Bunting couldn’t hit the same target and Humphries went to the brink. A 65 checkout saw the World Number One seal it 11-7.
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