Bunting appreciates sporting gesture from Pietreczko: "He was signalling to the crowd to be quiet"

Stephen Bunting was one of the players to fall prey to the successful winning streak of Ricardo Pietreczko last weekend, who surprisingly reached the quarter-finals at the European Darts Open in Leverkusen.

Pietreczko first beat Geert Nentjes and Peter Wright, before also eliminating Bunting at the last sixteen. 'The Bullet' could count on little support from the partisan German crowd. At key moments, he was whistled and booed heavily.

But it wasn't something 'Pikachu' used to his advantage as per Bunting.

"Naturally, I am disappointed. Although I didn’t play close to my best this weekend, the results were coming," said Bunting.

“I won’t lie, a few of the crowd were shouting out when I was throwing at double against Ricardo [Pietreczko] but I heard afterwards that he was signalling them to be quiet which I very much appreciate.

“But I will bounce back stronger, it’s all a learning curve and after the first two European Tour Events of the year, I’m in a strong spot to qualify for the finals in October.”