Cult hero Stephen Bunting thriving as fans favourite: "It's gone absolutely crazy, and yeah, long may it continue"

Wherever Stephen Bunting goes, he can count on some vocal support from the crowd in attendance. Undoubtedly, that will be no different at Alexandra Palace, where the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship is soon to get underway.

Bunting has taken social media by storm over the past year with his TikTok videos. Moreover, with "Lets go Bunting mental," he has a catchy slogan that his followers on social media are inundated with. During his walk-on, fans sing "Titanium" by David Guetta ft Sia at the top of their voices, while Bunting takes in every moment as he tries to play to the crowd. Not only is Bunting's cult status rising, he is currently in the best darting form of his life.

Read also

The big preview of the 2025 World Darts Championship: Can the favourites stand up, or will we get another crazy tournament?

"Oh, it'll be amazing. Obviously, at the Ally Pally, it's just a special place" Bunting previews of his walk-on to Sky Sports. "The walk-on last year was unbelievable. Obviously, everyone's singing 'Titanium' and stuff. Yeah, it really does help you as well, especially if things don't go right in the match."

"The crowd are there on your side," continues the former Lakeside champion. "It's nice to be known as a fan favourite. A lot of the TikTok stuff I do as well, messing around and stuff. I think the fans see my sort of personality, which is good, and it's good to give something back to the fans as well."

Stephen Bunting has become one of the absolute crowd favorites in recent years

As a result of his rising popularity, we are also seeing more and more fans walking around with Bunting merchandise. "It's gone crazy, to be honest," he admits. "People are all singing it at every venue I go to now, and even when people are in the street pulling me to one side, 'Oh, Bunting mental!'. It's gone absolutely crazy, and yeah, long may it continue."

Despite being excited about the reception he will receive at the Ally Pally, Bunting is trying to "relax" going into the biggest tournament of the year without putting too much pressure on himself. "I think probably the last 18 months (have been my best darts) and I think I am just more consistent in my game," he explains. "The averages proved that and the double percentage and stuff. I am feeling relaxed on and off the oche. I've not really set any targets, to be honest. Obviously, I'm playing really well. I'm not going to put pressure on myself and say I'm going to win it, but I'm playing the best darts of my life at the minute, and I definitely know I can. It's about getting down there."

For Bunting, the World Darts Championship begins with a match against either Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt on Friday, Dec. 20th. "Preparation has got to be right leading into it, and then I've got to prepare and look after myself when I'm down there as well, make sure that I'm 100 per cent for every game I play, and just give it my all and we've got a chance," concludes 'The Bullet'.

Read also

"If they put them in, it looks bad on the PDC in my opinion" - Nathan Aspinall frustrated by Premier League attitude of Gerwyn Price & Gary Anderson