ST HELENS thrower Stephen Bunting bowed out of the HappyBet European Darts Open in Dusseldorf at the semi-final stage.
It was Bunting's first European Tour semi-final appearance but he was knocked out 6-4 by Peter Wright, who went on to lose to world number one Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the final.
Wright was arguably more impressive on his way to the final than in the decider.
He needed to average over 100 to overhaul Bunting.
Bunting was a 6-4 winner against Terry Jenkins in the last eight, having progressed thanks to ending the hopes of fellow St Helens darter Michael Smith 6-3.
Bunting's highest win came in the second round, sending out German Stefan Stoyke 6-1.
Smith got to the third round thanks to a 6-4 result against James Richardson.
Another St Helens thrower, Dave Chisnall, fell 6-3 to Dutchman Jan Dekker.
Chisnall was the only seeded player to crash out of the second round's evening session.
In a dogged match, the doubles proved clinical with Dekker landing 42 per cent to Chisnall’s 27 per cent.
The European Tour continues in Riesa, Germany, from September 2-4 with the HappyBet International Darts Open.
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