Lakeside Drama Continues with Bunting

Stephen Bunting is in action as the quarter-finals are concluded at Lakeside this Friday evening.

Bunting posted the highest three-dart average of the first round then went on to beat tournament favourite Scott Waites in the second round with an awesome display of finishing. He now faces number three seed Dean Winstanley in the last eight with Jan Dekker or Gary Thompson waiting in the semis.

Bunting is certainly the form player in the tournament and was lethal on his doubles against Waites last time out. But he’ll need to maintain that level of form to see of the solid Winstanley tonight.

The bookmakers have made Bunting the favourite for this one at odds of 8/11 to make it to the semi-final of the BDO World Championships for the first time in his career. Winstanley, who is making his debut at the event, is 5/4 to progress.

Dekker and Thompson face ach other in the night’s other game and can both count themselves a little fortunate to still be in the event.

Dekker beat a way-below-par Stuart Kellett in the second round whilst Thompson’s 79.95 three-dart average was the second lowest winning average of the tournament; only superseded by his own 78.06 average in the first round.

Given the relatively poor form shown by both of these players so far in the event it is no surprise that the bookmakers are struggling to split them. Dekker is available to back at around the 4/5 mark whilst Thompson is no bigger than 6/5.

The winner’s of tonight’s two matches will face each other in the semi-finals tomorrow night with Martin Adams and Martin Phillips set to go head to head in the night’s other semi-final clash.