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The PDC World Series of Darts event in Perth kicked off with the first round as eight top PDC stars took on eight Oceanic representatives, and it was Perth's Anderson who caused a shock against Bunting.

Anderson - whose emergence has seen him qualify recently for the World Matchplay in Blackpool to follow up three World Championship appearances - started strongly as he raced into a 3-0 lead against the English ace.

Bunting responded superbly, taking five of the next seven legs to force a decider, but paid for missing one match dart to complete a stunning comeback as Anderson held his nerve to take out double 15 and set up a quarter-final against defending Perth Darts Masters champion Phil Taylor on Saturday.

“I’ve been here for three weeks now and I feel really settled," said Anderson, who has been based mainly in the UK while competing on the PDC circuit since winning a Tour Card 18 months ago.

"It’s great to be playing in front of my friends and family again. The guys are going to have to be careful because they are on my turf now!”

Taylor began the defence of his title with a 6-1 victory against New Zealand’s Craig Caldwell, despite having suffered from illness in the build-up to the event after arriving in Australia.

The Stoke great, who turned 55 on Thursday, landed back-to-back 14-darters as he moved 3-0 up before taking out 130 on the bull for a 12-darter to lead by four legs.

He also kicked off the fifth with two 180s, but after missing out on a possible nine-darter he went on to lose the leg as Caldwell posted double eight.

However, Taylor swiftly ended Caldwell's hopes with dth hammer bits another brace of 14-dart finishes to seal the victory and move through to a meeting with the home favourite on Saturday.

"Craig put me under a lot of pressure, and after I missed the nine-darter the crowd started to get on my back which made things slightly more difficult. I've been ill for the last couple of days and so I won't be going to see any kangaroos, it's more important that I get my rest ahead of Saturday."

World number one Michael van Gerwen survived a light fightback from David Platt as he secured a 6-4 victory from their first round clash.

Van Gerwen looked to be on course for a record televised average as he started in scintillating form, kicking off with seven perfect darts before landing an 11-darter in the opening leg before racing into a 4-1 lead.

Platt, Sandvik Drilling Tools though, refused to be beaten though as he secured three of the next four legs to reduce the gap to just one leg at 5-4 before van Gerwen found his form again to break in the final leg, landing tops to wrap up the win, ending with a 105.69 average.

"Dave is a good player and it was a very tough game," said van Gerwen, who claimed the World Matchplay title three weeks ago in his last outing.

"I want to do a lot better tomorrow but I did enough tonight. I feel great, I've got a feeling that I can win this tournament but there are a lot more games to do and I'll have to improve."

Van Gerwen will now face fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals, after the five-time World Champion produced a fine display to defeat Australian favourite Simon Whitlock 6-3 with a 102.96 average.

Van Barneveld landed two maximums and a 106 checkout during the high-quality encounter, before securing the win with a 13-darter.

"As soon as the draw came out and I saw I was playing Simon I knew I would have to focus as he is the best you can face in Australia," said van Barneveld. "http://leandercle.blogtez.com/post7.php