Dave Chisnall knocked out of World Darts Championship

Morecambe-based darts star Dave Chisnall was knocked out of the Cazoo PDC World Darts Championships by an in-form Stephen Bunting.

In a high quality tussle, Chisnall could not quite match the scoring and finishing of the former PDC world semi-finalist and BDO world champion when it counted.

Bunting ended up a 4-2 winner in the Round 3 clash on Thursday afternoon at Alexandra Palace in London in a cracking battle in which both players averaged more than 100.

Chizzy, the world number 12, had dominated his friend Bunting in their recent televised matchups but 'The Bullet' delivered outstanding darts to go 2-1 in front after the Morecambe man had taken the opening set.

Back came Chizzy, who is originally from St Helens, to level the match at 2-2, averaging 107.49 to Bunting's 105.55 as both men peppered the trebles.

WHAT A STANDARD!

Chisnall takes the fourth set to level at 2-2!

He is averaging 107.49 to Bunting's 105.55...

The darts just keeps getting better and better in the Third Round. #WCDarts | R3
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/AE1XG0oLlK

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 29, 2022

Chizzy, who'd beaten Andrew Gilding to reach Round 3, then hit back-to-back 180s to start the fifth set.

But Bunting, also from St Helens, roared back to clinch the set on double top, to stand on the brink of ending a run of eight consecutive defeats against his pal.

The number 21 seed had a chance to clinch the match in the sixth set but missed a dart to win as Chizzy took out double four to stay alive.

But Bunting made no mistake in the next leg, finishing with a 102.2 average and nine 180s.

He will now play either Vincent van der Voort or Luke Humphries in the last 16 on Friday as once again, Chisnall is left waiting for his first televised major title.