Brilliant Bunting Humbles Humphries
Brilliant Bunting Humbles Humphries
Stephen Bunting got the better of World Champion Luke Humphries as the top eight players in the world entered the fray, on day two of the 2024 Cazoo Masters in Milton Keynes.
Bullet Shoots Down Humphries
Stephen Bunting confirmed his status as one of the major players in the darting world as he beat recently crowned World Champion and world number one Luke Humphries, to book his spot in the quarter finals of the Cazoo Masters.
‘The Bullet’ set his stall out for the off, back to back 13 dart legs claiming the opening couple of legs before both players hit maximums in leg three as Humphries halved the deficit.
A 130 checkout from Bunting was responded to immediately by a 117 out from ‘Cool Hand’ as Bunting went into the first break 3-2 in front.
Another ton plus out of 110 saw Bunting establish a three leg lead for the first time at 5-2 but Humphries hit back again, a 145 checkout clinching a 12 dart break before successive holds saw Bunting go into the next interval 6-4 to the good.
Remarkably, the ton plus checkouts kept coming, another 110 from Bunting before Humphries followed a maximum with a 140 out to get back within two legs.
Three holds of throw followed before the turning point of the match came in leg 16, Humphries missing a dart at the bull to level the match before Bunting fired in a fourth ton plus out of 146 to go within one leg of victory.
Victory was then sealed in the next leg, a nervy 20 dart break after Humphries had missed his chance to extend the contest.
Van Gerwen Sends Defending Champion Packing
Michael van Gerwen ended the reign of 2023 champion Chris Dobey as he eased through to Sunday’s quarter finals.
After Dobey had won the opening leg of the contest, ‘Mighty Mike’ hit back emphatically, winning the remaining four legs before the first break and the two immediately after to open up a 6-1 lead.
Dobey stopped the rot in leg 8 to reduce the arrears to four legs, only for van Gerwen to fire in an 11 darter to make it 7-2.
Four consecutive breaks of throw followed before van Gerwen closed out the win with a 15 dart hold, ending the contest with an average of just over 96.
Heta Turns Up Heat On Voltage
Damon Heta produced an eye catching display as he saw off the challenge of former world champion Rob Cross to secure his quarter final spot.
The early exchanges went with throw, Cross going into the first break with a slender 3-2 advantage.
Australian Heta started to gain the upper hand in the middle of the contest, making Cross pay for missed darts at double for a break in leg 8 before forcing a break of his own in the very next leg and then firing in a 13 dart hold to lead 6-4.
Successive holds followed before a two dart 68 checkout clinched another break for Heta and a foot in the next round at 8-5.
Cross rallied to get it back to 9-8 having been 9-5 behind but Heta impressively found an 11 darter against the throw when it mattered most to get over the line, ending with a 102 average to Cross’ 99.
Rest Of The Action
Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney made the most of his late call up as a replacement for Gerwyn Price as he got the better of Joe Cullen, who had beaten his World Cup of Darts playing partner Josh Rock the previous evening. Both players averaged 92 in an even contest before Gurney ran out a 10-8 winner.
Dave Chisnall made history on Friday night with the highest ever average in the first round of the Masters and he continued that form as he fought past Dutchman Danny Noppert by 10 legs to 8.
Dimitri van den Bergh beat an Englishman for the second time in as many days, Michael Smith becoming the latest to fall to the Belgian after James Wade had lost out on Friday evening. Curiously, Smith averaged 5 points more and had a higher checkout percentage but it was van den Bergh that was a 10-6 winner.
Peter Wright got a much needed victory, racing into a 6-0 lead before stumbling to a 10-8 win over Krzysztof Ratajski while Nathan Aspinall was a 10-5 winner over Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Results
Sunday February 4
Afternoon Session (1245 GMT)
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting v Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall v Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Damon Heta
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Bunting/Wright v Aspinall/Gurney
Van Gerwen/Chisnall v Van den Bergh/Heta
Final
Bunting/Wright/Aspinall/Gurney v Van Gerwen/Chisnall/Van den Bergh/Heta
