Announcements

THERE was agony for St Helens darter Stephen Bunting as he suffered a dramatic first round defeat at the Unibet World Grand Prix on Monday against newly installed tournament favourite Peter Wright.

Bunting had threatened an upset when he claimed the opening set 3-1.

Although Bunting lost the second set, he moved towards the brink of victory in the deciding set.

Alas, leading 2-1, Bunting missed two match darts at double 16 as Wright scrambled home double 11 to force a sudden-death leg, and a 177 score helped set up tops to complete a gutsy comeback.

"It was close and I'm relieved to get through that," said Wright. "I've had many great battles with Stephen and it's often a close game and this was another one of those.

"I'm just glad to be through and still in the tournament because it's always nervy playing over that short distance and with the double-start format."

There was an also exit for fellow St Helens thrower Michael Smith against Gerwyn Price, losing 2-1 in at Dublin's Citywest Hotel.

Price came from a leg down to take the opening set 3-1, finishing 105, 86 and tops to lead before the roles were reversed as Smith took out 72 and 92 as he claimed set two to level.

The Welsh ace then took out 88 and tops to lead 2-0 in the third, and though Smith responded with a 98 checkout, Price posted a 180 and tops to seal his second round spot.

It leaves Dave Chisnall as the borough's only remaining player in the tournament and he is in action later today.

The second round of the Unibet World Grand Prix begins on Tuesday with the opening four matches, including the eagerly-awaited clash between former World Champions Raymond van Barneveld and Steve Beaton.

John Henderson - who knocked out reigning champion Michael van Gerwen on Sunday - takes on Alan Norris, Chisnall faces 2015 World Grand Prix winner Robert Thornton and Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney meets Joe Cullen.

Monday's winners will be in second round action on Wednesday as they bid to continue their challenge for the £100,000 title at the Citywest Hotel.

The Unibet World Grand Prix is taking place until October 7 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, live on Sky Sports.

First Round.

Benito van de Pas 2-1 Cristo Reyes.

Mervyn King 2-0 Ronny Huybrechts.

Steve West 2-0 James Wade.

Simon Whitlock 2-1 Christian Kist.

Mensur Suljovic 2-1 Ian White.

Michael Smith 1-2 Gerwyn Price.

Mark Webster 0-2 Richard North.

Peter Wright 2-1 Stephen Bunting.

Tuesday October 3 (7pm).

Second Round x4.

Dave Chisnall v Robert Thornton.

Daryl Gurney v Joe Cullen.

John Henderson v Alan Norris.

Raymond van Barneveld v Steve Beaton.

Wednesday October 4 (7pm).

Second Round x4.

Gerwyn Price v Benito van de Pas.

Mensur Suljovic v Steve West.

Richard North v Simon Whitlock.

Peter Wright v Mervyn King.

Second Round: Best of five sets, best of five legs per set. All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.