Day 5 Darts: World Championships - Extra

Good evening. Wednesday at Lakeside marks the halfway stage of every

championship, and this year that gave six men the opportunity to book

their place in the quarters. The first match involves a player in his

13th year at Frimley Green, Gary Robson, and he was up against and

inform Roddy Green. 2-2, the deciding leg in this first

set. Green with the advantage. Getting the best of order. That is

what this venue is all about. It is the home of darts and the home guard

are in. OK, treble 19. He wants the

bull's-eye. What a start! 12 dart finish. You have got to love that.

Everybody standing. That's the one that counted. Came as a big

surprise. His scoring by his standards hasn't been good, but he

still won it with a magnificent 167. The highest checkout of the

tournament so far, beating Hogan's 161 against Mitchell yesterday.

There are the averages. Robson with the highest average. But

green with the first set. Look out the checkouts -- look at the

checkouts. Just one missed dart at the double so far. 140 apiece.

Another one for Gary Robson. Another big out shot. He won't be

finished on these three will stop he will be coming back.

Shanghai 20s for Gary Robson. He has got the treble, so double tops.

Right on it in his second round match. 167 for will be green

hollowed by a Robbie has got the advantage when

these two have met in the past. Six previous games. Robbie has won four

of those. His highest profile win in 2010 in the quarter-final. The one

the last meeting as well, which was the Belgian open back in August. Not

too much to choose between the two men up until this point. Robbie

peppering the treble is now. That is his first maximum. -- trebles. He

could have got another three in there. This for a 14 darter eight.

What a match this is turning out to be. Please, keep it going.

123 for Robson, 120 for Green. Robson and green. -- Green. Very

little between them in terms the difference between the two in the

averages is decreasing all the time. Back to the trebles.

Robbie's wife there, Ruth. She travels with him everywhere. He has

given himself an outstanding chance with that 160. A good out shot.

Treble 20. He won't get it he has nicked the darts. As he did in the

first set, he has his nose in front.

In five legs of darts so far he has had a 12-darter, a 13 darter and a

167 finish. Lovely, isn't it? That is what they pay their money for.

They want that cup. They want the title.

Travel the world throughout the year. Getting the points to get to

this championship. Really was a rueful scratchy shake

of the head from Gary Robson after that seven. Back in range now,

though. Two good cover shots there. Oh, dear. Pushing each other at each

throw. He is on a finish of 114, Robbie Green. These six starts for

it. Treble 18. -- darts. 20 is the shot. As I said, no out shot for

Gary Robson. so, double eight for a second set

for Robbie Green. One more for a 2-0 lead. Very out of character and a

way in for Robson. We will see. 80 required. That looks like a single

eight to me. You have been let off. Robbie takes the set.

APPLAUSE A set against the darts for Robbie

Green. Gary Robson will feel that he hasn't done too much wrong when he

finds himself 2-0 down. Third set, first leg. Robbie to throw first.

Game on. It only takes one loose start to

lose a set. As it is, Robbie Green is 2-0 up,

and he's another set -- needs another set.

Gary Robson's scoring of the first set has gone down a little bit.

Robbie Green's going in the other direction, even with that

bounce-out. Brilliant! His son Jamie is united!

Delighted? He's excited. Composes himself and nails it. Two

sets and a leg up, Robbie Green. First to four, remember. 13-dart

finish, that last leg. Really forcing the issue. There's the dart

that did it. He's won four legs in a row now. An impressive checkout

percentage. His checkout percentage in his match against Richie George

down in the mid-30s. That's the kind of area he would want it to be in.

54% is excellent. He's been coming 13 years to the championship, has

Gary. Still to get past the second round.

I'm afraid, at this stage, he's got a lot to do. He can do it. Come on,

Gary. Twice he's done that on the top!

Just flicks it with the last start. Another chance for Robbie Green,

then. The match stays alive! Robbo back in

it! It's been some year for Gary. He was

diagnosed as a diabetic in 2013. He's lost a couple of stone - looks

really well. Also had a back injury that affected his mobility back in

the autumn. Hopped out of a chair one day, he said, and had no

movement. He really struggled. Still made the final of the Jersey Classic

that weekend, though. He's still got the same stance, so obviously it's

far better than it was. An out shot of 164. It's really the

out shots that these players are having to get.

Gary, you require 164. Needed the treble with the first dart.

154 for green Green. There it is.

APPLAUSE Comfortable. 2-0 up. Third set.

Should be 2-1 up. One leg a way from saving the match.

As the pressure intensifies, the quality increases. That third dart

drifting off. CHEERING

Gary, you require 140. 141, 100, 180!

Those are the three scores of Robbie Green.

Gary Robson is fortunate here. He'll have to finish it with 3, double 8.

Oh, Gary! Gary, Gary, Gary... This has a feeling of being a critical

leg. Both men have missed three darts at doubles, but Robbie Green

hits! It's two apiece in the third. Jamie delighted. Robbie Green,

having saved the set, now has the darts in his hands for a 3-0 lead. ?

The family are very happy. Jamie I was really looking forward to this

match, Jim. It's not disappointed me. And I'm sure it hasn't everybody

watching this classic. Robbie looks in imperious form. Last

year, he won the first round, saw off Scott Mitchell in round two,

then a great quarterfinal with Chad O'Shea, which he lost 5-3.

In 2007, Robbie beat Michael van Gueren, who was 17 years of age.

Well done, Michael. You're a world champion. Absolutely brilliant.

He's had some great scalps on this stage. As well as MVG, Stephen

Bunting he's beaten, Dave Chisnall, John Walton. All scalps taken by

Gary Robson. It's only the scalp of Robbie Green that he's concentrating

on at the moment. It must be many years since John 'Boy' Walton has

not been here. I just realised that. He's missing. John 'Boy'.

This is an absolutely critical set of darts. Double-top! Can't afford

to miss this in any shape or form! This is pressure!

CROWD GROANS He wants the bull with the first

dart... CROWD GROANS

Unlucky! Can you do it? You've got three darts! For the set... !

Yes! Game, and third set, Gary Robson. Great match! We want it to

continue! We want it to go all the way! It could be doing just that!

Fourth set, first leg. It's Gary to throw first. Game on. Must have

thought his chance had gone. Missed two set darts, then Robbie missed

one, and Gary Robson survives, pulls a set back. That was against the

throw as well. In fact, all told, if you count the three he missed in the

fourth leg, five set darts missed. But the sixth one went in, and it

takes us through to this fourth set. One thing is certain - they're

getting the best of order in this great afternoon crowd.

That's the one! First leg, Gary Robson. Second leg, Gary throws

first. CHEERING

Could have put those on a pinhead! Fifth 180 of the match - four of

them the way of Robbie Green. He'd be vore disappointed in that.

Another 13-darter for Robbie Green. That's four legs in this match that

he's won in 13 darts or less. Championship form.

CHEERING Well, they might as well keep

standing up! Two excellent cover shots as well,

134 to follow the 180. He has taken a huge hold of this leg.

18... Double 16 coming in. He will be coming back for double eight. 278

is what is required. For a 13 darter. A 14 darter. Now

double two... To avoid Robbie Green of having a chance of getting back

into a lead he was miles away from. He has bust it. He has taken a

chance that Robbie won't take out 140. Is he going to get stuck now?

140 is a good opportunity. He will get a chance at double eight. Let's

hope it works for you, Gary. Good thinking. 140 is not the easiest

checkout, and it is a big one as well. If you had been Robbie Green

in that situation and somebody had done that to you, and effectively

said you're not going to hit a 140, does it affect you? Not really. You

are engrossed in the match now. You don't think about the other

player's game. Sometimes you think, I've got that and you feel

confident. But, no, you just concentrate on what you're doing. I

hope that has helped you, Jim. These two men are very close friends. Two

extremely affable characters. Two huge football fans as well.

Robbie, as you can tell by his shirt, a lifelong Liverpool fan. We

were chewing the fat yesterday about Hezbollah the Newcastle United with

Gary -- Hezbollah did. After 12 darts, requires double 18 -- his

beloved. Double 18. Yes. A crucial third dart for Gary

Robson. You saw him literally jumping up and down in frustration

with himself after a 20 and a single one in this crucial fifth leg. Such

a powerhouse with the scoring. The third set when Robbie had the

dance was won by Gary Robson to break back. -- the darts. Only a

break if you can hold. He has to hold this set with the darts, he has

started 51, 39, 58. Robbie has effectively stolen back the darts

here. Nine darts apiece. He has a lead of 79. Heeded well there. -- he

did. Back to even Stevens. Robbie with the advantage. The pressure of

this decisive leg perhaps turning a bit from the high standards these

two men have set themselves up until this point. He will have a look at

83 in a minute. Big men have nerves. Treble 17 to leave double 16. Double

16. Bull's-eye. Only a fraction. Roof on her feet. -- Ruth.

Bull's-eye for Robbie Green. He can't hit it either. All the

pressure is on. 25 for Gary Robson. He went for single nine and he hits

the treble and he has bust. Robbie has a chance he would never have

believed he would have got. She is out there cheering for you. Double

16. The Green family to explode, and so is, as I said, Kong. It has been

a wonderful match so far. Hugely entertaining. Decent averages.

Decent checkouts. And two of the four sets going to last leg

deciders, and the man who has lost it has had a set dart and hasn't

been able to take it. It is a long way back now for Gary.

Still to get past that second round who do -- hoodoo.

It has been brilliant. Robson Green soldiers on into the fifth set.

OK. Robbie Green. Not a finish, 193. Looking to finish with the next

throw. Gary Robson is still on 223. 54 looks handy for Robbo. Fifth leg

of the -- first leg of the fifth set. He will be back with Gary back

on 182. The high-scoring is evading him now. Double ten. There it is.

The match has just gone off the boil a bit. The last time he beat Robbie

Green was the quarter-final of the Northern Ireland Open in 2011.

Robbie Green not too far away from taking his record against Robbo to

macro 52. Two more legs and he will be in the quarter-finals for a

second successive year. -- 5-2. Not pleased with what is happening

up there, Robbo. A bit deflated. 120 for Robbie Green to go one leg away

from victory. Again, a leg against the darts to move him within a leg.

He has hit it again. The nasty as kind of Shanghai surprise for Gary

Robson because he has taken him to the brink of elimination.

I think his son is a Liverpool supporter as well.

I wonder what's going through his brain.

Good cover shot. Getting ever closer.

Well, that's going to help a little, but it's a long way back.

brilliant. No other word for it. That's brilliant. It has left a

158. Oh, dear. It's a shame. Part of a

great match. This for a place in the quarter-finals. Treble 18. That

would have left double 12. Single 20, meaning he needs tops. Gary

needs 124 to save the match. Treble 18, bull's-eye. It swings now. All

waiting to cheer. The family tree's there. Double tops. Yes! With the

second. The end of a thriller. But look at them here. What a match

they've seen. Absolute brilliance. Jim couldn't wish for better.

Fantastic match, some real high-quality. Robbie Green is

through to the quarters having lost only one set so far. Kong marches

on. Scottie dog Mitchell was scampering

all over the stage on Tuesday after knocking out Paul Hogan in the first

round. He ran off stage and coached his dad, who had never watched him

in 25 years of professional darts -- hugged will stop would it be the

same against Wilson? He had been brilliant in knocking out Christian

Kist late on Tuesday. Fascinating match on the agenda.

It's the mental disintegration - what it can do to you in this third

set, as he tries to get back into it. He can't afford to let it play

on his mind - one dart making all the difference. First to four sets,

remember, taking place in the next round. Mitchell will be cursing

himself at that. He's got to find a way to put it behind him.

Mitchell looked as though he was home and dry! Set that up

brilliantly. ..until the finish. Hit two of his 11 doubles in that

second set. I think the nerves so fraught in

that last leg of the second set has affected both of them here. 20%

checkout rate for Mitchell - last thing that he needs. Wilson - the

advantage in scoring, and also perhaps more importantly, the

advantage in finishing. He's taken out a couple of big ones along the

way. Surely Mitchell's gonna get this.

APPLAUSE Comfortable hold, but I bet you as

he walked back from the board he thought, "Well, I can do it now. Why

couldn't I do it three minutes ago?" The P word is what it's often about

so -- is what it's about so often in darts - pressure.

Great start to this leg - three 140s between them.

Lovely cover shot - treble 17 setting up a good finish on 90.

Lie of the darts didn't help your view, but I can tell you that was an

absolutely perfect dart. They would have been Hoping to --

hoping to play tonight - Scott Waites sitting in the audience,

taking it all in. Third Yorkshireman to win the world title. Wilson, of

course, could become the fourth, as John mentioned earlier.

Bet you Dennis Priest is watching this right now. He was the first

Yorkshire winner back in 1991. The man with those feather-like darts

that served him so well. Had such a brilliant career.

The man that gave his legion of supporters - of which I'm more than

happy to say I'm one - so much pleasure in his darting career here.

Mitchell with the darts, in a good position. 104 required.

Treble 20 would have left him double 12. Double 15... Talked about the

importance of counting... Scott didn't get it right that time.

Eminently hittable. He's come close to a 164 already tonight. Decisions

for Scott - he's got three darts in his hand. Could go 10, double 10.

Not when you can do that! Why bother?

LAUGHTER Double 15.

Scott's 88 tonight exactly the same as it was against Hogan in the fist

round. Wilson's just a little bit less than he hit against Kist.

If you took the first set out of that match against consist consist,

he averaged 101 -- Kits, he averaged 101 for sets two and four combined.

A mere 93 so far. Handy last dart there from Wilson, just maintaining

the advantage. In this leg. Got the darts. Has to win this leg to keep

this set alive, Wilson. Needs the treble for the bull... Not

that treble, though. 161 dash can be done. -- 161 - can

be done. Wilson will come back with 76 to make it two apiece.

Needs to set up a decisive leg in this third set. 16 for double-top,

for two each in the third - no. CROWD GROANS

Mitchell - 96 to take his first set and make it 2-1. Great dart. Double

18 - takes it! He's into the match! Was an effort, wasn't it? He kept it

together. A rueful smile from Wilson.

? This is a telling story - look at the checkout percentage Scott

Mitchell has had in the second set - 2 out of 11. Improving radically in

that third set. ? Three chances for Wilson to be

broken by Mitchell. Three opportunities to break the

Wilson throw - this the first of them in this leg - one that he

hasn't been able to take up to this point. Pressure on Wilson's 90.

Pressure indeed! Another bull's-eye checkout for

James Wilson! APPLAUSE

That is the mark of a potential champion. Mitchell on double-top for

a leg against the darts if he was given the opportunity. One dart at

bull - hits it, damage averted. Big score, big first visit straightaway,

putting in an advantage. First to four sets. Mitchell can just

maintain the momentum somehow... If you're wondering how Wilson is

getting on in this little mental game he plays - how many he can win

in 15 darts or less - that kind of tells you the story. He's averaging

15. 4. A little bit over par, as far as

he's concerned. A big checkout possibility for

Mitchell. Could be a different story! There you go! Good chance to

go 2-0 up now! Decent from Mitchell, but the sort

of form Wilson's in, you could see him getting this. He wanted another

bull's-eye! He was so close! 56 for Mitchell to hold. Two dart at

double-top to tie it up at 1-1 in the fourth. He only needed the first

of them. APPLAUSE

Fourth set going with the darts at the moment. If it goes with the

darts all the way through, it will be Wilson that takes a 3-1 lead into

the fifth set. Second of the three opportunities in

this set to break the Wilson throw and potentially get it back to 2-2.

Wilson coming back now with 203 required. Nothing between them in

terms of score. Wilson with the throw.

A glimmer of an opportunity for Mitchell maybe...

Three darts which faileded to hit the treble. Wilson at 144 - great

first dart. All they can do is rack up the

numbers and hope now. Last dart didn't go where he wanted it to go,

but it could be academic. Double-top for Wilson, who leads 2-1 in legs

and sets. 3-1, of course, far from being an

unassailable lead if Wilson were to see out this set. But it would give

Mitchell a mountain to climb. Realistically, has to hold here.

Then has to break the Wilson throw in the next leg. Precious little

between them in terms of scoring stats in this match. Both averaging

around about the 90 mark. Hasn't been able to produce his best

form here at the Lakeside. He has won five ranking titles, Mitchell -

two of them in 2013, beating Tony O'Shea at the French Open, and back

in November he beat Martin Adams. So, to keep the set alight. 103

required. Six darts at it. -- alive. No check out for Wilson. He

is going to stay where he is. Hits the double top again, right in

the middle from left to right. It will go to a deciding leg in this

fourth set. A smile of approval from dad, Jim, as well. With the

advantage of throwing first, trying to polish this leg off now, Wilson,

to make it 3-1. He has hit tops twice in set number

four. He missed it twice with set darts in set number two and Wilson

came back to punish him with a double five which took the set.

Again he has got a 180 on the floor. Unlucky, he had the top

wire. -- he hit. Maybe not. He might have

hit the dart on the left-hand side. The only other set that has gone to

a deciding leg went Wilson's way as both players had double trouble. A

loose second dart, annoyed at himself for that. 41 is poor. Wilson

can really take a stranglehold now. A couple of troubles would be handy.

-- the trebles. Not the leg to have 60, 141. -- 100

and 41. Six darts at it. Mitchell is a long way back.

Scott is still only back on 118. -- this got. Wilson to take a 3-1 lead

and moved to within a set of the quarter-finals. Decent marker with

the first. A little adjustment. Too much of an adjustment. Well,

Mitchell hasn't really looked like winning this leg at any stage, but

now he's got a chance. 118 and this would make it 2-2 in legs. Trying to

compose himself, putting the crowd noise behind him. Great first darts.

He got the concentration absolutely right. Wilson must have thought that

he had just about done enough, but he couldn't close it out. Mitchell

stays there. He missed tops twice when he had a

chance to win the second set, which he lost. He has had one dart at tops

and he has nailed it just when he has to. Three darts and doubles in

set number four for Mitchell and he has hit all three. His double

conversion rate early on was pretty lamentable but he has really stepped

it up. The sense of confidence coursing through the veins. He now

looks like a man who really believes he can win. I'm right in saying he

has hit six of his last seven now. That gives him nine out of 22

overall. He has the better conversion rate now.

Three from four in set number three. Set four, three from three.

Another bounce out. That is five that Wilson's had now. He will count

himself a little bit unlucky there. 141, though, Mitchell with the

darts. Wilson has nicked them. He will switch across to tens. Good

darts. Wilson will be back. Straightaway,

an opportunity of double 16 for a leg against the Mitchell throw at

the start of the fifth set. Rolled it off the barrel. That is against

the darts. You get the impression that that was a really important

dart. If he'd let another one slide away through in different finishing,

Mitchell would be even more on a role than he is at the moment.

needed that. A treble with the third dart.

Looking for 180. Metronomic when he is trying to rack up the numbers.

When he gets onto the double, he is really trying to force them home,

Wilson. That won't go. Somewhere over deep

mid-wicket. Under a bit of pressure before this.

That has changed the dynamics of the match. Second maximum of the leg. He

will be back having a look at double 18 for a chance to take a 2-0 lead

in this fifth set. Minor adjustment. Beautifully done. Impressive darts.

2-0 up. James Wilson has steadied himself. At one stage he was

beginning to look distinctly creaky. He got that key double check out.

Was it a double eight that he managed to get when under real

pressure? Took it out and what a difference it makes. It has stopped

the charge of Mitchell. Wilson winning the first set against the

darts, holding in the second for a 2-0 lead. Mitchell then held, broke

the throw in set number four, looks like it will be an immediate

response from Wilson. I'm sure that players past and present will be

enjoying the standard and relishing this atmosphere and taking in an

enthralling game. The broadcasts -- that was Wayne Mardle. The

broadcasts in other pastures and he does it rather well. -- he

broadcasts. The angle of that first dart was

horrible for him. A decent third. 118 for Mitchell. A great first

dart. 18 for double top. A fraction away. He hit a 113 to win the fourth

set, couldn't quite hit another one to save the fifth. Treble 19 would

leave double 19. Not to be. Annoyed with himself as much as anything at

that first dart. Left himself a good finish. He thought that one was in.

Steady, Sun! -- son. A couple of eights for Wilson to take this fifth

set. 3-2. Mitchell thought he had it. But no. Double eight and it is

3-2 will stop Wilson, the number two seed, needs just one more. He starts

set number six with the darts in his hand. Hold on here and he is proved.

-- through. Wilson scoring more heavily on the

140s and the 180s. Almost twice as many scores of 140 or more. Looking

for a 177. Mitchell's impetus has been slowed,

he had a great chance but not able to take it. His finishing letting

him down when it really mattered. A good solid three from Wilson.

139 to move to legs away. -- two legs. Double top when he comes back.

Another 15 dart for James Wilson. It is significant not necessarily for

tonight, potentially for longer in the tournament, if Wilson wins here

today that early in the game, and in the third set, the only needed one

dart at a double to see it off. Since then he has been winning

legs, but he has needed a few looks at the double each time. It has been

solid from Wilson, but he hasn't been where he was in the first round

against Christian Kist. You get the feeling that if he is going to go

all the way this year, he will have to move up a level from this. He has

been good, he has been solid, but is it title winning darts? In all but

one of the legs he has won it has taken him 19 darts or more. This

isn't a match that has had the intensity as the one against

Christian Kist, but he was pushed all the way there. He got inspired

there, it was a real humdinger of a match. This one hasn't reached that

feverish level. again, a crucial treble with the

third dart for Mitchell. Look at a concentration on Wilson's face. --

the concentration. This is decent. Could have done with

the 25 rather than the 50th. But Wilson, he can do 107 -- the 50.

Tops. Double four. Double two. Come on, he says. And now, after a brief

hiatus, he makes the double two. Good adjustment from Scott

Mitchell. A smile from dad, Jeff. All level in set number six. It has

been a good scrap between these two. A good game of darts. And still you

suspect one or two twists and turns to come. 22 stopped the rot as

well, it would have been the fifth successive Laiki would have lost --

double two. -- successive leg he would have lost. Total concentration

on the face of James Wilson. A sort of lugubrious look about him. A hint

of Gene Wilder. If there's one man I can imagine that wouldn't be any

good at darts, it would have been him. Donald Pleasant? Gene Wilder

would have been a fantastic football linesman. Again, Mitchell is in the

same boat as he was in the fourth set. He has got to break the throw

at some stage. Wilson back on 140. He has got a great opportunity, he

has set himself up beautifully here and real pressure on Wilson here.

Another one of those will be very useful. Double ten for a 140.

Absolutely brilliant! That is how to knock the stuffing out of an

opponent. A polite round of applause from Scott Mitchell. He's not always

the most demonstrative but he enjoyed that big-time. A bit of a

rueful smile on the face of Mitchell. Come on! Of the equation

for Mitchell is simple here, he has got to win the next two legs -- the

equation. Otherwise it is 4-2 to Wilson. And he already has a big

advantage in this leg. A wonderful double ten that he hit. He missed

three at double ten to win the fourth set and take a 3-1 lead. Had

he hit them, his night would have already been over. The finishing

line approaching, though, seemingly after a 140 and 134 at the start of

this leg, and two sub 50 scores from Scott. Those two treble 19s putting

him in a dominant position. Just one leg required. That treble is another

body blow to Mitchell. More than 200 behind after nine darts apiece in a

leg he has to win. He needs a miracle here. 130, at least six

darts to do it for the match. He has gone four double five instead for

the match and he was a hairsbreadth away. Mitchell is a mile back.

Single 20 and another single 20. Wilson will have six darts to get

this and take a place in the quarter-finals. Excellent victory

for the number two seed. Another good game. Scott Mitchell Falls at

the second round hurdle again. And he was not at his most fluid best,

James Wilson. Did not play at the same intensity and standard as

before, but he has done enough and he makes it through to an appetising

quarter-final. Days Prince was absolutely buoyant after not just

one but two victories at Lakeside this year. But he would need all the

confidence he could muster against the number one seed, Stephen

bunting, who swept all before him in 2013. It would take a mountain to

stop the bullet. Bunting is such an easy-going, affable figure, but

right on his game here. He looked remarkably relaxed before the game.

That the confidence of winning tournaments. Just brushing the

barrel as it went through. Bunting is looking to set it up. He needs a

trouble but cannot find it. -- treble. It's important to make an

impact on this match at an early stage. No finish for Bunting. Again,

he had that little cushion, so the pressure was not on as much. Tops

for the first leg for Prins. Some adjustments required. Now,

across... Well, he may be penalise for that. Bunting could hurt him. He

has been doing that for the last year or so. Never in doubt, never in

doubt. A good finish and Bunting into the match, straight off the

redhot favourites. He takes the first leg. He always plays with that

smile on his face. There is such a funny story with that picture. He

tells a joke about the hair... -- about the tortures. No one tells

that story like he does because of his face. He has his game face on

today, from the looks of it. It was the tortoise and the total, I

remember it now. -- tortoise and the turtle. I was going to say that it

was missing something in the telling. (LAUGHS). Big cash prize

this year. What about this? I'm lucky. Just the wrong side of the

wire. Plenty of time. 180. First maximum of the match going to Prins.

But Bunting can finish it off... Beautifully done! He looks so solid!

He is in a good mood. The confidence that he has got from last year... He

feels like he can do this in every single match replays and to be

honest, that is exactly what he has been doing. 180! He needs the leg.

That's the statistic that matters. 140. I know that averages don't

count huge amounts but I think he would like to come out of this match

with an average over 100. It would make a statement to everyone that he

is the man. Before Christmas, he was on the receiving end of a heavy

defeat by Jamie Wilson, who played really well. That still hurts him, I

know it does, and he will be out to prove a point. Wilson will be in

action later on today. The third for Prins. Surely he will get on the

scoresheet this time! He has an average of 112 at the moment. He is

doing nothing wrong. 41 required. Double 16... Slight adjustment. And

perfection! He gets the leg. Can Bunting served out the first set?

It's been great so far. He needs to string them together in this leg. A

slightly more prosaic visit that time from Bunting. Look at those

numbers from Prins. Importantly, Bunting has been the guy who has

been checking out. One out of five, 20%... 67%, you would not often see

that being beaten. Anything above 40 is a good average. Interestingly,

Bunting's record year has not been quite what you would expect for a

player of his standing. Got to the quarter-finals in 2011 and lost. He

would love to have these finals. This is the only thing not on his CV

at the moment. As we were hearing before hand from our master of

ceremonies... That is some statistics. I don't know what the

record is. I had to 6-1. I thought I was great. He has 8-8. All those

victories give you so much confidence as well. You think you

are unbeatable. Coming back with a potential 124 checkout and he has

six starts in which to do it. -- six darts. All Prins can hope to do is

put a little bit of pressure on. So, this is for the first set. And

impressive. Very impressive. Three successful double attempts out of

five. He has that little lead, now, and he will look to defend all of

that. He will be to set up. He is a very quiet character, Prins. He does

not scream and shout when he is playing well. That was a close-up of

the thrilling action that is serving Bunting so well and already, he is

ahead. We were saying what a good year he has had. On both the steel

tip and the soft tip. His manager was telling me that they have been

around the world a bit, having a go at that and doing pretty well. Hong

Kong, China, France... I think he was the favourite for the World

Championships in Hong Kong but he got beaten in the quarter-finals.

This is quality darts. Wonderful. Three treble 19 's, leaving him on

88. 121. It's impressive for Prins, but

surely a little bit too late. That conversion was so impressive.

Four out of six, continuing that wonderful 67% checkout rate. And

putting his man under pressure once again... 180! First set to Bunting.

Dear we whisper? The crowd will be going stratospheric. 140. He will

have to settle for the ten darter. The only wins one leg, no matter

which way he does it. That is what he is concentrating on. Starting to

rack up that average. By any standard, 104 is brilliant. 98 is

not too shabby either, to be honest. He has got to hit the treble 20s.

Bunting is back for 84. The way he has been finishing, you fancy he

will get this. That's another break. Such certainty! Wanting to make a

statement to the rest. He is certainly doing it. He is in total

control. But then, Prins is not doing much wrong, to be honest. He

is throwing some quality darts but being swept away by a performance of

brilliance at the moment from Bunting. An extraordinary checkout

rate. He did not have a lot to aim at there. Mind you, the darts only

way about 14 grams. Probably the lightest ones in the tournament.

They really are light. Dennis Priestley used to throw featherlight

starts, didn't he? -- darts. Good switch. And some beautiful

cover shots. He needs Bunting to just quake somewhere. There is not a

glimmer of opportunity for Prins when he is throwing like that.

Almost every leg, he has put in a big score. And Prins is throwing in

some big darts as well. Hitting him where it hurts. Great darts,

wonderful darts. And that was absolutely clinical. Paula Prins

must be wondering what he has got to do. -- poor Prins. It's not rocket

science. Bunting already two sets up. 180! Performance of the

tournament by a mile. There's plenty more in the tank, he can play better

than this. Averaging at this stage 106.5, Stephen Bunting. By any

stretch of the imagination, you know who has been around for a few years,

he would think at that and think that is a bit handy. I have played a

few years and only done that once in my life. Pretty impressive. Doggies

watching from one of the players's vantage points -- macro dobby --

Anastasia Dobromyslova. 105 to go ahead again in this first set. No

finish, but he can set it up. The first time in the match he has given

David the chance of a finished. 20s first. Treble 19 probably now. He

has had a think. He went for 15s. Bunting has an opportunity. 14 for

tops. Doesn't really matter which double he's hitting at the moment.

Just like that. Shelling peas. 7/10. Producing such solid darts with the

throw. Write up alongside some of the best

performances ever produced at the Lakeside if the level continues as

it is. Pretty close to the record, 104 at the moment. Formidable

averages. Prins, he has been walloped at the moment with an

average that most of the time would win you the match.

A nice finish for Bullet this one. Two treble 20s, double eight. You

would give him fairly short odds on doing it. I thought that was going.

That is the first time he has missed double eight. He loves that side of

the board. Bunting will be coming back. Double eight required to make

it 2-0, throwing with the darts. Surely now. Precision. Prins up

against it to stay in this third set. He has won every single leg he

has started. Now he's got the breaks. It is unfortunate for Dave,

looks like it could be a 4-0. You really need to be getting hundreds,

then that means the other guy has got to get 12-darters to beat that

and he is getting better than that. He would probably win any other

match, as you said. on the receiving end of this sort of

thing, I wonder what sort of thoughts are going through Dave

Prins Luke Hodge -- Dave Prins' mind. He will be hoping for a

glimmer of an opportunity. Steve isn't letting him into any leg to be

honest. He shouldn't beat himself up, though, he's played really

well. He has put the hours in practice. I spoke to him earlier and

he seemed really confident. Only 28, Stephen Bunting. He seems like he's

been around for ages. He beat Vincent van der Voort on his debut

is nine years ago. Not a bad scalp first time out. Then he got Ted

Hankey in the next round and was thrashed. We have all been there. It

is his turn now, he is the daddy at the moment.

He desperately needs the treble. He has got to get one now. That is a

good last dart after switching. Well, clearly in the context of the

match, this is a huge visit for Prins. Great first start. Tops for

the leg. Oh, dear. He missed it by a distance. That was made more

difficult because he hasn't really had many chances. When you come

along it is essential you get them. Bull's-eye for the macro set -- the

set. The set is slipping by quickly. Looking for his second leg

of the match. Not a bad marker. Tens now. So, dear. It's just not

happening for him. -- oh, dear. In this kind of match he simply has to

get those. Back to his old favourite, double eight here. It is

a set winner. Come on, he says. 3-0. Only one more required. The

checkout rate not quite what it was, 56%, 9/16, but he is three sets

up. Well, Prins just needs a bit of

magic here. Bunting has maybe taken his foot of macro gas a little. Not

intentionally. -- off the gas. Fortunately for Dave it looks like

Dave has done the same thing at the same time.

Maximum number four for Prins. Can he close it out now, though? It

isn't a good visit from Bunting, so Dave Prins has six darts from here.

You could almost put your money on this happening. Perfect darts. He

went across and got treble 13 and therefore the double 12. A must get

now for Bunting. Trouble leaves double eight. Not to be. Bunting now

with treble 12 to take the edge in this first set. You miss those

chances and he had a chance, he knows it, you miss those chances and

it ain't going to happen. Still not lost a leg on his start. Totally in

control will stop he's looking good, Stephen. Six out of six he has had

with the dance. -- the darts. When Steve has been getting down to

around the 200, the shop to leave his finishing in special. Every shot

leaves him with a double or a two darter -- the shot. Nothing

whatsoever in Bunting's performance to suggest that he is not a just

above favourite. He is the man to beat. He is hitting these maximums.

That is his fifth. Bunting with just a couple.

No checkout for Prins. This is where he needs to set it up.

This is where Bunting has been exceptional, with this visit to set

it up. Treble 20 would leave double eight

for Prins. I'm surprised he didn't go for the bull's-eye there. He will

have time to think about that one as Bunting tries to check out. Superb.

12 doubles out of 18. Superb. Stats like that we knew tournaments and

majors -- when you -- when you. One leg away from a place in the next

round for Bunting -- win you. The one big title that he is yet to

take. He has been mighty impressive this afternoon. Averaging over 100,

or thereabouts. I beg your pardon. There you go. 100.21. I thought it

was thereabouts. I keep these statistics in my head you

understand. A loose three from Bunting, but he's

got time. I think we will allow him. A big deflection with the last

dart, didn't put the pressure on. Will be oche a millions be going on

Bunting to win the title? Millions of yen. Quite brilliant. Just what

Tony oche a was saying about. The visit he makes to set up the

finish, he has been doing it absolutely brilliantly -- Tony oche

eight. Now he will return for tops for the match. That absolutely sums

it up. His finishing has been brilliant. Stephen Bunting has

annihilated Dave Prins, who hasn't thrown that badly himself, but he

has taken it 4-0. His average over 100. His checkout rate, 63%. By any

reckoning, absolutely world-class from Bunting. If he carries on like

that, it will take a special performance from somebody to deny

him the world title. Finally tonight we focus on one of the women's

matches. Armstrong from Germany is the number eight seed and she was

trying to beat Prins into one of two remaining quarter-final berths.

And she is going straight in. Good pressure shots. Armstrong is looking

good. Definitely. And again! 135, 125... Prins is going to get into

Top Gear. This is a ladies match. That's a good call. She has not got

a lot to do. Sharon has been steady on the 60s and has not been getting

that travel very much. -- treble. That was a great leg from Armstrong.

A 14 dart finish. That is brilliant. She has got to start hitting the

travel instead of a 60. It's a good crowd tonight. Yes, they are great.

As always. Prins is getting in there. That's a bit more steady for

her. We just saw Patrick, Sharon's partner. It has caught the

imagination of the crowd. Patrick and Sharon have been together 6.5

years. After 12 darts... Leaves it 96. 180! That is great darts!

Brilliant darts from Armstrong! Right on the wire. Can Armstrong

make this a positive? Here she goes. And there it is. She takes the set.

Set points to Armstrong. What a comeback! She is clapping her hands.

It's the best of three sets. It does not look like this will take long.

Sharon has got to get into gear. She has got to put the pressure on. 60%

for Irena in the checkouts. It's very high. They have come up in

leaps and bounds, the ladies. We have a very strong field at the

moment and it's so good. Sharon is still with problems. Irena is just

power scoring, isn't she? And she is taking out the double. That is the

thing. She is finishing straightaway. And that is what Irena

is going for. Irina, take it away. She has got its! She finishes later

we! Those doubles were really good. I think that we could say brilliant.

She is hitting them right in the middle as well. Sharon has to make

throwing first and advantage and make it count. The overall average

for Irina at the moment is 75.4. At Prins is 70.3. She is back right in

there. She is not missing that treble very much, if she?

Straightaway, she comes in with the 135 and puts the pressure on.

Exactly. It's a very confident performance at the moment from

Irina. But as you know, it could all change very quickly. Of course.

Sharon is a great player as well, so it could alternative around. I have

seen her on the circuit and she has had some good performances and has

been playing really well all year. Yes! 180! A great darts! Brilliant

darts from Irina! Treble 20, double 12. 79... 13 would leave her double

top if she went for the treble. I don't know where that last one went,

but there you go. Take 65 away. 65 and 25. 13 for tops. And there she

is. She is not missing anything! She is not missing anything! We have

only been playing about ten minutes. It could all be over at this rate.

High scoring again. She is looking really confident, Irina. Look at

this. She is straight in there again. Look! 120. She is on fire!

Bring Bunting on. See if he can beat her. This is great! This is

unbelievable! Sharon Prins has caught Irina Armstrong on a day to

remember. Sharon is not firing as I know that she can. She has not been

allowed to, really. She has been punished every time. OK, 172.

Fluency, there. That was brilliant darts. So consistent, so consistent.

That's the one! And that is the match! Brilliant darts from Irina.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Thank you very much for your

company. That wraps things up from day five at Lakeside. Join us later

this afternoon on BBC Two. The drive for the titles continues in earnest.

Has a good night. This January, we aim to bring you

the Northern Lights, As you can imagine, it's

a pretty risky experiment, so if it doesn't work,

this is what you'll be watching. BEEP

Sorry about that!