Van Gerwen: 'Of course Bunting will be slaughtered'

Also Bunting is in good spirits, after defeating Jose Justicia and Jonny Clayton. The Bullet also fancies his chances against Van Gerwen, as he said that the Dutchman looks vulnerable, according to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Van Gerwen doesn't mind Bunting's comments, he told the press after his win over Ricky Evans. ''Stephen needs to say something... He is the one that will be under pressure.''

''What else can he say? That he will be slaughtered? No, but that will happen of course. He is a phenomenal player, but often it goes wrong for him in an important match. I hope that will happen again now.''

When Mighty Mike beats Bunting, then he might face 55-year-old Steve Beaton in the Quarter-Finals at the Alexandra Palace. The Bronzed Adonis knocked out James Wade in the third round and meets Darius Labanauskas in the last sixteen.

Van Gerwen showed his respect for the performances of the 1996 world champion. ''He has done a great job, credit where credit is due. Steve took out 86 on the bullseye in the last set and I saw him celebrating, something I have never seen before. I like that, it's nice to see'', the world number one said.