"I put myself under so much pressure" - Nervous Stephen Bunting escapes early exit at 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters

PDC
Friday, 31 January 2025 at 11:30
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Stephen Bunting had to make an extreme effort to beat William Borland on the opening day of the 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters. 'The Bullet' was two sets behind, but eventually came back to reel off the next three sets without reply for a 3-2 win.

Bunting defied a blistering start from Borland to advance after a five-set thriller. The Scottish qualifier won the first set 2-0 by throwing out 120 and 64, then pulled out the second set with a roof raising 170 checkout. Bunting then halved the deficit before Borland took a 1-0 lead in set four to move on the edge of victory. Bunting made it 1-1 before the Englishman cleverly forced a deciding set with an 11-darter. Both men then held their own leg in the fifth set before Bunting clinched the win with a 65 finish in the deciding leg.

“I felt very nervous tonight. I put myself under so much pressure,” Bunting acknowledged afterwards in conversation with the PDC. “I know how good Willie is, but at the same time I know how good I can be, and I feel like I’m really into the tournament now."

With that win, the darter from St Helens is now through to the next round, continuing his very impressivestart to 2025. "Even though I didn’t feel comfortable I was still able to get over the line and that’s a massive positive for me,” concludes the world number five.

On Saturday, Bunting will return to the stage at the Arena MK in Milton Keynes. There, 'The Bullet' will play Peter Wright in the second round of the Winmau World Masters, a repeat of the quarterfinals at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship when Bunting prevailed. Wright won 3-2 in sets over Kevin Doets in the first round of this tournament.

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