THE FACTS
When is Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting taking place? Saturday 20th July, 2019
Where is Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting taking place? Winter Gardens, Blackpool
What channel is Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting on? Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for Gerwyn Price vs Stephen Bunting? Check https://www.pdc.tv/betfred-world-matchplay-tickets for ticket information
THE STATISTICS
All-time meetings: Gerwyn Price 3-2 Stephen Bunting
Last meeting: Gerwyn Price 6-2 Stephen Bunting
THE PLAYERS
GERWYN PRICE
- Welsh number one Gerwyn Price reached the quarter-finals on his debut at the Matchplay in 2015 but since then he has not gone further than the second round and he crashed out in round one in 2017 and 2018.
- Price claimed the biggest title of his career in November 2018 when he defeated Gary Anderson 16-13 in the final at the Grand Slam of Darts. His previous best performance in a TV major was an appearance in the UK Open final in 2017.
- The Iceman had a vastly improved second season in the Premier League this year when he finished fifth in the league having suffered elimination after nine weeks on his debut season in 2018.
STEPHEN BUNTING
- Stephen Bunting has lost each of his last five matches at the World Matchplay having not won a game on the Winter Gardens stage since his debut in 2014. On that occasion, he lost in round two to Gary Anderson after defeating Peter Wright in the first round.
- When he reached the quarter-finals at the 2018 Players Championship Finals last November, it was his first appearance in a major TV ranking tournament quarter-final since the 2015 UK Open.
- Since that quarter-final appearance, Bunting has lost his opening match in the last two PDC TV ranking major tournaments with defeats against Luke Humphries at the World Championship and Steve Lennon at the UK Open.
THE PREDICTION
Both of these players have had a tough time at the World Matchplay recently with two consecutive first-round exits for Price and four for Bunting so something has to give in this encounter. The Welshman has seen the level of his game improve considerably over the last year and he looks very much at home on the big stage. Bunting is capable of bursts of brilliance but his belief is just not at the heights it was when he first made the move across to the PDC. Price’s edge in both confidence and consistency should see him overcome Bunting in a competitive first-round battle.
