Top seed Bunting joins big names to crash out at BDO

TOP seed Stephen Bunting was sent crashing out of the BDO World Darts Championship after losing 4-2 to Darryl Fitton.

Bunting had been one of the favourites for the title after triumphing in the World Masters in October, although he could only edge out first-round opponent James Wilson 3-2 on Sunday and was sent packing by Fitton.

The 16th seed had to come back from 2-1 down though and was favourite for the exit as Bunting was playing supremely well, including a 167 checkout, the highest of the tournament so far.

But when Bunting’s form dipped, Fitton levelled and a 116 finish in the fifth set put him on course and the 50-year-old sealed his place in the quarter-finals in the next by landing double 14.

Robbie Green and Wesley Harms, seeded fifth and eighth respectively, also advanced.

Green, who beat last year’s winner Christian Kist in the first round, breezed past Scott Mitchell 4-1 while Dutchman Harms edged out Alan Norris 4-3.