James Hurrell was hitting all his targets in the first set and a half, but it isn't landing for him now.

Bunting needs 80 for a break of throw... 20, 20, but shy of tops.

Can Hurrell pick up 140 to hold throw? No, he's wide of trebles.

So three at D10 for the Liverpudlian... single 10, D5. Bunting in control.

Could that 161 checkout be a turning point in this match? It will certainly have fired up Stephen Bunting, who celebrated that wildly.

Bunting throws first in set three, so has a good chance to establish a lead.

He gets to a 100 finish - T20 hit, then tops at the second attempt.

That means Bunting is ahead for the first time since the opening leg.

Two players hit nine-darters during the 2025 PDC World Championship.

Dutchman Christian Kist was the first player to hit one, doing so in a first-round defeat by Madars Razma.

Australia's Damon Heta hit one in the third round, but like Kist it came in a defeat as he went out to Luke Woodhouse.

We have not seen one so far in the 2026 tournament though. Will anyone break the duck?

Image source, Getty Images

James Hurrell simply has to hold throw to go 2-0 up, and he opens with a 180. He's still averaging more than 100 in this match.

A finish of 92 is on... not there, but he leaves tops if Bunting misses 161.

This would raise the roof if Bunting gets it though - T20, T17... BULLSEYE!

Magnificent.

That has roused the Bunting fans at Ally Pally, who include 5 Live presenter Colin Murray.

Bunting has a shot at the Big Fish, but Hurrell is well back so he doesn't have to struggle with it.

So he sets up 110, and cleans up. That's the Bullet we know.

Much better from Stephen Bunting, a second 180 for him to launch the seventh leg of the match.

Hurrell sets himself up the Big Fish to reel in the set though... can't land it.

Bunting however can't find a finish, and Hurrell has three at D18.

Single 18, wide of D9... AND AGAIN.

So Bunting gets three on 36, and shows how it is done.

Stephen Bunting just doesn't look right here. He sends in a 41 visit and appears to be sweating.

James Hurrell turns up the heat with a 140, he's averaging 98 - playing just as well as Bunting is poorly.

Better from Bunting as he turns to 19s and gets 133, leaving him a 132 out.

25, T19... a millimetre away from bull! The crowd thought that was good.

But Hurrell lands D10, and breaks. Five legs on the spin from the underdog.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

Image source, PA Media

Even if Stephen is at full force, that was a good opening set from James Hurrell. He took advantage of a sloppy leg from Stephen to get the break.

For James, you felt he had to get out in front and he's done that. Bunting won't panic yet. He knows how quickly things can turn around.

What can Bunting - who reportedly was suffering a cold over Christmas - do to turn this around?

Not much if James Hurrell plays like this. He jams in a 180; he hit 10 of those in the last round.

Hurrell spurns a 64 finish with one over tops, however Bunting can't make 61. And Hurrell lands D20 next time around to hold throw.

Stephen Bunting, the fourth seed, averaged 84 in that first set.

Not good enough.

Stephen Bunting entered the World Championship fourth in the PDC world rankings and will qualify automatically for next year's Premier League if he retains or improves that spot by the end of this tournament.

Only the world's top four are guaranteed spots in the four-month darting roadshow around the UK and the rest of Europe.

You can read more about how players qualify and earn selection for the Premier League in an article by the BBC's Ask Me Anything team.

Stung by that, Stephen Bunting launches in his first 180 of the match.

But with both approaching checkouts, Bunting lops in a 27 visit, followed by 41. That's really poor.

Hurrell can wrap it up with 110... not quite, now he needs 52.

Bunting on 114, can't convert, so another chance for the underdog...

That he seals with tops!

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

This is where James Hurrell has got to back up his good work.

He looks comfortable - although I know we're only in the fourth leg.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Bunting hasn't been quite on form yet in this match - six darts without a treble to start leg three.

James Hurrell is first to a finish, and sets himself up 64 with Bunting well back.

Hurrell however gets himself confused, with single eight and D16. A quick word to the referee, and he returns with three at D12 - landed.

A big break.

James Hurrell's first leg on his throw of the match, he'd love to claim this and quieten the crowd.

He sets up a 120 Shanghai finish, and bangs it in. Tremendous darts.

That earns him some respect from the fans.

After both men land 100 in their first two visits, Stephen Bunting hits 140 to set up a 161 finish.

T20, T17... well short of bull.

But Bunting cleans up 47.

This should, on paper, be one-sided. Stephen Bunting is 59 places higher in the world rankings.

But James Hurrell has already beaten one seed this tournament, dumping out number 29 Dirk van Duijvenbode in round two.

No question as to who the crowd is backing.

"There's only one Stephen Bunting", is the song.

Image source, PA Media

I know it has been said a lot, but Stephen Bunting's walk-on music really is something isn't it, when a packed crowd get involved.

Sia's Titanium rings around Ally Pally, the choir being conducted by Bunting himself.

Aiming to spoil the party is James Hurrell, playing in the third round for the first time.