Stephen Bunting signed off his Premier League marketing campaign in model as he overcame defending champion Luke Humphries 6-3 in Sheffield to assert his second nightly win of the 12 months.
The Bullet was in high-quality type all through the evening and, roared on by a South Yorkshire crowd eager to see Leeds United fan Humphries crushed, raced to a dominant victory with seven 180s and a 106.37 common.
At 5-3 up, Bunting began with six excellent darts to lift hopes of a nine-darter to clinch it however needed to accept ending off a superb show in 12.
Regardless of his defeat in Thursday’s closing, Humphries did sufficient on the evening to maneuver as much as third general within the season’s standings and keep away from a semi-final in opposition to world champion Luke Littler on finals evening at London’s O2 Area subsequent Thursday.
As a substitute, Humphries will tackle Wales’ Jonny Clayton, with the Ferret’s compatriot Gerwyn Worth going through Littler.
Victory strikes Bunting above Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen to safe a fifth-place end within the closing standings.
“I used to be in all probability a bit onerous on myself. I am as much as fifth! I am so proud of that,” Bunting instructed Sky Sports activities.
“Folks wrote me off and stated I should not be in it. I need to be on this Premier League for years to return. That was a large assertion from me.”
