Bunting beats Aspinall to win International Open

Liverpool-born Stephen Bunting is currently fifth on the PDC order of merit

Stephen Bunting beat fellow Englishman Nathan Aspinall 8-5 to win the International Open in Germany - his first European Tour title.

Bunting had ended a run of eight match defeats in the Premier League on Thursday when he won night nine in Berlin.

The 39-year-old continued his impressive form on German soil with a confident display in Sunday's final at the Sachsen Arena in Riesa as he averaged 100.19 to Aspinall's 91.36.

Bunting raced into a 3-1 lead, but 33-year-old Aspinall got back on level terms with two bullseye finishes, including a 130 checkout.

Aspinall, who had been seeking back-to-back European Tour wins after he lifted the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen last month, was unable to achieve that aim as Bunting took charge of the contest.

Bunting, nicknamed 'Bullet', reeled off the next three legs and even though Aspinall remained in touch he was unable to wrestle back the momentum.

Earlier, Bunting had claimed a thrilling 7-6 win Luke Humphries - his second win over the over world number one in a week - to reach the final.

Humphries came from 4-1 down to draw level, but Bunting produced an 11-dart finish to take victory.

Neither Luke Littler nor Michael van Gerwen took part in the tournament.

International Open results

Final

Stephen Bunting 8-5 Nathan Aspinall

Semi-finals

Stephen Bunting 7-6 Luke Humphries

Nathan Aspinall 7-4 Martin Schindler

Quarter-finals

Luke Humphries 6-3 Wessel Nijman

Stephen Bunting 6-2 Karel Sedlacek

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Josh Rock

Martin Schindler 6-2 Peter Wright