STEPHEN Bunting bowed out in the semi finals as Peter Wright won his third Players Championship of 2015 with an incredible display to edge out Benito van de Pas 6-5 in today's final in Coventry and claim the £10,000 title.

St Helens thrower Bunting's run to the semi-finals was his best display in a ranking event since March's UK Open, while the world number four Wright averaged over 107 in the decider and landed an impressive seven maximums as he traded blows with the Dutch youngster.

Wright's route to the final included an impressive opening four games as he defeated Paul Milford, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Darren Johnson and Justin Pipe for the loss of only five legs.

He then saw off two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis 6-3 in the quarter-finals and overcame in-form Mensur Suljovic by the same scoreline in the last four.

Van de Pas had been bidding to win his first senior PDC title and was appearing in his second final of the year - after reaching a European Tour decider in June - as he once again impressed.

The 22-year-old Dutchman would concede no more than three legs in any of his six wins en route to the final, as he whitewashed Luke Woodhouse before defeating Magnus Caris, Mick Todd, Mark Barilli, Jamie Lewis and Bunting.

Kevin Painter's quarter-final appearance was also his best finish for seven months.

Suljovic's run to the last four saw him appear in his fourth ranking semi-final of October, but Wright denied him a spot in a final for the second successive weekend after also taking victory in last week's European Darts Grand Prix last four meeting.

Painter was joined in the last eight by Joe Cullen, Jamie Lewis and Adrian Lewis, who defied nine 180s in ten legs from World Champion Gary Anderson to take victory in their last 16 contest.

Phil Taylor's return to ProTour action began with a win over Holland's Jeffrey de Zwaan and a whitewash of Tony Robinson before he was edged out 6-5 by Justin Pipe.

World number one Michael van Gerwen opted not to enter the weekend's events in Coventry ahead of the forthcoming major televised events which begin on October 30 at the Unibet European Championship.

Sunday sees the year's final Players Championship take place in Coventry, as PDC Tour Card Holders and PDPA Associate Members compete for a further £60,000 in prize money.