The two-time champion started strongly, opening five legs with 160 scores and racing into a two-set lead. Although Bunting fought back to take the third set 3-0 while averaging over 100, Wade recovered to break in the fourth and seal the win with an 81 checkout on double 13.
“I didn’t play so great, but I hit a lot of 160s,” Wade told Sky Sports afterwards. “I have loads more gears to go.”
Wade will face Gian van Veen in the last eight after the Dutchman edged Ryan Searle 3-2 in the only five-set match of the evening. Searle had come from a set down to lead 2-1 and was throwing for the match at 2-2, but Van Veen broke back and closed out the decider.
Top remaining seed Luke Humphries produced a controlled performance to defeat Jermaine Wattimena 3-0. The 2023 champion missed only three starting doubles throughout the match and progressed comfortably after a more laboured first-round win earlier in the week.
In the biggest upset of the night, debutant Niels Zonneveld stunned 10th seed Gary Anderson 3-1. The Dutchman averaged 102 in the second set and held his nerve in the fourth, breaking with a 109 checkout before Anderson’s dart at the bull for an 86 finish bounced out.
The quarter-final line-up is now set: Nathan Aspinall faces Ryan Joyce, Gerwyn Price meets Jonny Clayton, Humphries takes on Zonneveld, and Van Veen faces Wade.