World Matchplay: Gary Anderson’s gesture behind Stephen Bunting speaks volumes
Gary Anderson's time at the World Matchplay may be over for this year, but the Scot's moment of class against Stephen Bunting will be remembered for a long time
Gary Anderson proved he's a gentleman of the oche by cheering on Stephen Bunting's nine-dart finish attempt at the World Matchplay. The Flying Scotsman was up against the beloved Scouser in the second round showdown in Blackpool.
It turned into an absolute thriller, with Bunting edging out the two-time PDC World Champion in a nail-biting decider. Bunting's triumph secured his spot in the quarter-finals at the Winter Gardens. The most electrifying moment came during the 15th leg, with the Bullet ahead 8-6 in the race to 11.
Having thrown eight flawless darts, Bunting needed just a double 12 to achieve darting perfection. Even though it was a crucial leg, Anderson could be spotted behind Bunting, genuinely encouraging his rival to complete the magical nine-dart finish that would have brought the house down.
When Bunting's final dart found the single 12 rather than the double, the Bullet clutched his head in his hands before turning to Anderson, who had been grinning in anticipation of witnessing perfection.
He playfully gestured with his hands and kept smiling to himself, while Bunting laughed, and it showed Anderson's class. Reflecting on his near-miss, Bunting said: "It was close, to be fair. If I had it back, I think it'd be further away!
"But I feel like I'm playing the best darts of my life. Even in practice I'm hitting nines and constantly being on for the double. The game's in a great place."
Bunting nearly threw away the leg after fluffing two attempts at doubles on his subsequent visit, but eventually clinched it with double three. Following considerable back-and-forth action, Bunting secured a 12-10 triumph in the decider with a composed 112 checkout.
The duo shared a heartfelt moment at the match's conclusion, with Anderson embracing Bunting whilst shaking his hand and offering his congratulations. It represented a massive win for Bunting, who was first to acknowledge he wasn't firing on all cylinders early in the contest.
The 40-year-old is hoping this triumph will serve as a springboard for what could be a stellar Matchplay campaign. He declared: "I'm not a village idiot anymore who comes here and has a laugh.
"I'm here to win this title. I'd be fooling myself if I didn't believe I could win it. I know how good I can be – I've got three good games in the tank, and I've had a great season already."
He continued: "I think two years ago I'd have capitulated at 10-10. Now I've got that extra power to take a deep breath, relax, and get back to the oche and hit a big shot. That mental strength is going to stand me in good stead – not just for this tournament, but for everything going forward.
"I want to win this title more than any – because it’s here and now. I’ve beaten Luke Littler this year. I’ve just beaten Gary Anderson on one of the biggest stages in the world.
"I didn’t play my best, but it shows a lot. I’m not putting pressure on myself, but I know if I play my game, I’ve got a real chance.”