2019 Betfred World Matchplay – Stephen Bunting vs Ian White Preview & Prediction

THE FACTS

When is Stephen Bunting vs Ian White taking place? Wednesday 24^th July, 2019

Where is Stephen Bunting vs Ian White taking place? Winter Gardens, Blackpool

What channel is Stephen Bunting vs Ian White on? Sky Sports Action

Where can I stream Stephen Bunting vs Ian White? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go

Where can I get tickets for Stephen Bunting vs Ian White? Check https://www.pdc.tv/betfred-world-matchplay-tickets for ticket information

THE STATISTICS

All-time meetings: Stephen Bunting 8-5 Ian White
Last meeting: Stephen Bunting beat Ian White 6-4

THE PLAYERS

STEPHEN BUNTING

• Stephen Bunting won an epic sudden-death encounter against the number seven seed Gerwyn Price on Saturday evening to reach the second round at the World Matchplay for the first time since 2014.
  
• Having gone into the first interval at 4-1 down, Bunting trailed for most of the game against Price but he finally took the lead for the first time at 12-11 only to miss four match darts. He was then forced to survive a missed dart from the Welshman at the bull before holding his nerve to seal the victory.
• The Bullet leads 8-6 on the head-to-head record between the two players; he has won three of their last four meetings which includes a 6-4 win in their most recent encounter at the German Darts Championship in March.

IAN WHITE

• Ian White cruised to an emphatic 10-0 victory against a beleaguered Joe Cullen in round one to reach the second round for the seventh time in eight appearances at the World Matchplay.
  
• His scoring against Cullen was excellent from the off with two 180s in the opening leg setting the tone for the game and his first-nine dart average across the match was a very impressive 117.33.
• White’s overall match average was affected by two legs in which he messed about on a finish. During those two legs he missed a combined total of 11 darts at doubles. He still ended the match with an average of 98.24 which was his highest average at the World Matchplay since 2015 when he defeated Stephen Bunting 10-6 in round one with an average of 103.51.

THE PREDICTION

Bunting and White will both see this as a chance to improve on underwhelming records at the World Matchplay. Between them, they have only one quarter-final appearance in a combined total of 12 previous appearances at this tournament. There could not have been any more contrast between their opening match wins with Bunting having to endure a sudden-death leg whereas White didn’t lose a single leg in disposing of a struggling Joe Cullen.

White ought to be full of confidence following the season he has had so far and he looks to be better equipped to progress from this match than Bunting does. The Bullet was fortunate that Gerwyn Price was off-form in the first round and he does not have the consistency to pressure White enough at the key moments. It is likely that there will be a good number of 180s along with some twists and turns along the way but White is tipped to come through as the victor.