As the PDC World Darts Championship heats up, Luke Woodhouse is bracing himself for a challenging last-16 clash against eighth-seed Stephen Bunting at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. The unseeded Woodhouse, hailing from Bewdley, Worcestershire, enters Monday evening’s match after a remarkable victory over Australia’s Damon Heta, despite Heta landing a nine-dart finish.
Speaking to BBC Hereford & Worcester, the 36-year-old reflected on his journey through the tournament, marking this year as his first-ever fourth-round appearance in six attempts. “I managed to come through [against Heta], so who’s saying I can’t come through the game tonight?” he said, emphasizing his confidence and focus.
Table of Contents
- A Proving Ground for Both Players
- The Road So Far
- Other Matches to Watch
- Expert Picks for Monday’s Matches
A Proving Ground for Both Players
Woodhouse acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Bunting, whom he described as “a proven player for years.” Bunting, a former BDO World Champion, has been in fine form and is rumored to be a candidate for next year’s Premier League—a factor that experts believe will boost his confidence and performance.
Darts pundit Mark Webster predicts a comfortable victory for Bunting, noting his potential momentum as he eyes the quarter-finals. “As much as I’ve been impressed by Luke Woodhouse, Bunting will be going on to the quarter-finals,” Webster stated.
The Road So Far
Woodhouse’s path to the last 16 has been anything but easy. After a straightforward first-round win over the Philippines’ Lourence Ilagan, he defeated Belgium’s Mike De Decker and ninth-seeded Damon Heta. Despite being unseeded, Woodhouse remains focused on advancing further, with the prospect of facing Scotland’s Peter Wright in the next round. “All that work, if you can’t put your best game together and perform, then it’s sort of been a wasted year,” he added.
Other Matches to Watch
Monday evening’s action also features Michael van Gerwen taking on Jeffrey de Graaf and Luke Littler facing Ryan Joyce.
Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, is heavily favored to win, with experts predicting he’ll dominate in scoring, most 180s, and highest checkout. Webster sees this as another step toward a deep run in the tournament: “I can see van Gerwen getting through this match pretty quickly, maybe dropping a set or two.”
Meanwhile, Luke Littler aims to secure a commanding 4-0 win over Ryan Joyce. Webster expects Littler to start strong and deliver a standout performance, completing the lineup for the quarter-finals.
Expert Picks for Monday’s Matches
- 7:15 PM: Stephen Bunting v Luke Woodhouse – Stephen Bunting to win
- 8:30 PM: Michael van Gerwen v Jeffrey de Graaf – Michael van Gerwen to win, most 180s & highest checkout
- 9:45 PM: Luke Littler v Ryan Joyce – Luke Littler to win 4-0
With the championship heading toward its climax on Friday, darts fans can look forward to an evening packed with high-stakes drama and world-class performances. Whether Woodhouse can defy the odds remains to be seen, but his determination is clear: “I just try and stay nice and calm… and hopefully all the work I’ve put in comes to the front.”
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