"I cherish playing these big players" - After emotional Premier League return, Stephen Bunting looks to make an impact against Van Gerwen in Glasgow
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After a decade away, Stephen Bunting made his long awaited return to the Premier League Darts last week in Belfast. After getting emotional and slipping to defeat against Rob Cross though, Bunting is now keen to get his first win on the board against Michael van Gerwen in Glasgow later tonight.
"It was very emotional. I expected it to be good but I didn't expect it to be as good as it was," Bunting recalls of his Premier League Darts return, in conversation with Sky Sports. "Just the whole crowd all supporting me and getting behind me. It welled me up when I got on stage and the tears started flowing. It has been a 10-year journey to get back into the Premier League, so there was a lot of emotions running high anyway and it just spilled over a bit."
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Perhaps because of the fact he got a little teary eyed during the walk on, Bunting failed to fully produce his best darts against Cross last week. "The nerves were still there in the game and unfortunately I didn't get a win. Obviously the first week there was no expectations and it was just getting back into the big venues with big crowds and getting used to that again," he admits. "Now that I have had that monkey off my back, I am just really looking forward to the next few weeks."
As mentioned, on Night Two of the 2025 Premier League Darts in Glasgow, Bunting meets Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals. "I am massively looking forward to it. To be honest, I am looking forward to every single week that I play Premier League now," Bunting previews. "I have got to cherish these moments, they are big moments in my career."
And Van Gerwen holds no fear for Bunting either. "Obviously MVG is a massive player. He wasn't there in Wigan [at the Players Championship] this week so he will be well rested. I am just raring to go, to get on the stage, and hear the 'Bunting Army' roaring me on," he says. "The emotions were there the first week. I am sure I will still be a bit emotional with the walk-on and stuff but I am used to that now and looking forward to pushing on and playing my darts."
"Beating Michael in the Masters was a massive part of my career. It was one of the best wins of my career to date and I cherish playing these big players. My game is in a great place at the minute so to put my game up against the best players in the world is great for me and I feel like I am one of the best players in the world at the minute," Bunting concludes. "So I have just got to keep doing what I am doing, keep my feet on the floor, keep the emotions in check, and just look forward to the game. I am sure the rest will take care of itself."
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