"I can say as much as I want that I don't look but of course you do": Stephen Bunting feels Dortmund ranking weight dissipate
PDCSunday, 13 September 2026 at 14:00
Stephen Bunting has reached the last 16 of the Flanders Darts Trophy after a hard-fought win over Brendan Dolan. The Englishman had to dig deep against the seasoned Northern Irishman, who sat above a 100 average for long spells and pushed Bunting to the brink. Yet “The Bullet” prevailed. It was not only a key stage win, but also a big step towards qualification for the European Championship in Dortmund.
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Bunting knew beforehand the second-round tie at the Flanders Darts Trophy would be tricky. Brendan Dolan can hurt anyone on his day, and the Northern Irishman showed that again. The Englishman saw his opponent start strongly and realised early he could not switch off for a moment.
“He's a fantastic player and I know he can be dangerous. I just didn’t know he was going to be that dangerous,” Bunting said afterwards. “At one point I looked at his average and I think it was over a hundred. Then I knew I really had to get to work.”
"Looked up, I think he was averaging over 100 so I knew I was in a game my luck recently has been losing."
The win mattered even more to Bunting because he has recently produced strong displays without getting the results to match. He kept performing, but key matches kept slipping away. Against Dolan he finally struck at the right moments.
Crucial double 16
There was more on the line than just the victory. Bunting is locked in the race to make the European Championship in Dortmund. Going into the match he was close to Joe Cullen in the rankings, making every win and every pound of prize money significant.
That made the final dart at double 16 even more tense. Bunting knew that with that double he could not only win the match, but also move above Cullen in the standings for now.
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The pressure was immense. "Sometimes you can get caught up in a game and at the start of the game I thought I was playing brilliant, I brought the missus with me and manager and I want to put on a show for you fans. Sometimes I get caught up in the emotions of the rankings, I can say as much as I want that I don't look but of course you do."
Just when the tension peaked, Bunting kept his cool. "Yeah I closed my eyes," he said with a smile.
The dart found its mark and the win was sealed. It was a big release for Bunting, who has too often walked off the stage disappointed of late. “Thankfully I’ve won a game now. The prize money is on my ranking and I can push on," said the Englishman.
Stephen Bunting faces Nathan Aspinall in the third round
From ranking pressure to enjoyment
The win gives Bunting a favourable position, for now, in the race to the European Championship. The margins remain tight, so every match matters. For Bunting it’s about flipping the switch. "And listen, I've been playing some good darts and not getting a win. So it's about time I start playing bad and get some wins."
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He also highlights a wider truth. In the modern game you can post an excellent average and still exit early. Bunting has felt how fine the line is between success and disappointment. Against Dolan it wasn’t only about the level he produced, but about taking his chances at the right moments.
Important boost
The win over Dolan is therefore more than just a place in the last 16. For Bunting it’s a mental boost at a key point in the season. He knows the form is there and can now continue with less pressure.
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The Englishman also proved he can perform under pressure. Against a Dolan who averaged over a hundred for long stretches, Bunting fought for every leg. When it came to the decider, he was the one who handled the nerves best.
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The ranking battle towards Dortmund remains as tight as ever, but Bunting has given himself an excellent platform. Where he was recently asking why his good play wasn’t rewarded, he can now look ahead again.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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