"I understand now why Luke Littler doesn’t want to go over there" – Stephen Bunting doubles down on booing criticism at the European Darts Trophy

Stephen Bunting spoke at length with talkSPORT about the torrent of booing he faced last weekend at the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen. He also discussed his current form in the Premier League Darts.

One of the first topics raised was the notable incident at the second European Tour event in Germany last weekend, where the crowd made themselves heard in key moments when Bunting was throwing for a double.

Bunting confirmed that such situations do happen, but rarely on this scale. “Yeah, it happens from time to time. It’s not all the time, and it’s only a very small number of people who do it. But the whistling when you’re going for a double—when you’ve travelled all that way to go over there—it’s not ideal,” said the Englishman.

He was alluding in part to Luke Littler, who previously voiced doubts about playing in certain countries. “I understand now why Luke Littler doesn’t want to go over there. That’s the first time I’ve experienced it that bad. Thankfully, the referees stepped in and we were able to continue the game.”

An ongoing theme in modern darts is the congested calendar. Among others, Gerwyn Price recently suggested that players might be asked to do too much. Bunting added nuance.

“I think it’s a bit of everything, to be honest. But for me, you’re an elite sportsman, so you can pick and choose your tournaments—you don’t have to play in everything. It’s down to personal preference. Some players might skip tour events but still play exhibitions, so they’re always playing somewhere around the world. I do get tired—it is a long tour—but it’s also a rewarding one.”

He pointed to the financial and sporting stakes: “The more you play, the more money you earn, and you’re chasing rankings as well. That’s important for me this year because I’ve dropped slightly. So yeah, I’ll be playing in near enough everything.”

After strong displays in Belfast and Nottingham, Bunting was asked whether he might be in the best spell of his career. His answer was honest and self-critical.

“I felt like I was towards the back end of last year. I’ve been a bit slack on my doubles this year, but I don’t know why, because I haven’t done anything differently. These things happen, and the standard of players is getting better. But I’m happy I managed to get wins early in the Premier League this year—last year it took until week nine.”

He added: “I am playing quite well and getting wins, but it’s important to do that on the tour as well.”

Jonny Clayton’s performances also came up. The Welshman has been in outstanding form for quite some time.

“Yeah, Jonny’s been fantastic for probably the last 12 months. He had a great World Championship and he’s one of the best players in the world—he’s ranked number five, which says it all.”

Bunting prefers to stay out of debates about who belongs in the Premier League:

“There was a lot of talk about who should or shouldn’t be in the Premier League, but I kept quiet. I just wanted to be in it—I wasn’t worried about anyone else. Now it’s down to me to prove I deserve to be there. I’ve already won a night and made the semis the other week. I’ve put myself in a position where I’m looking at the top four now, not worrying about staying off the bottom.”

A showdown with young sensation Luke Littler awaits in Dublin, but that doesn’t change Bunting’s approach.

“No, definitely not. He is the best player in the world, but his Premier League form hasn’t been his best—he’ll tell you that himself. Maybe I can catch him cold. We’re on early, second game, so I’ll feel fresh. I’ve had a day off—done my washing, repacked—and now we go again.”

The hectic schedule highlights the realities of life as a top-level darter: “We travel tomorrow, play Thursday, then head to Belgium for a European Tour, then Berlin. We’ve got a few days there as well. People don’t see this side of it—we’re constantly on the road and away from family. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m doing it to provide for them, and I just want to play well for my family, sponsors, and management.”

The conversation ended on football, a topic close to Bunting as a Liverpool fan. “Before the weekend I was more confident, but now I don’t know what’s happening. They’ve taken their foot off the gas. People are talking about partying and things like that—I don’t know if that’s part of the problem. They’re just not the same team as last year. We seem to be going backwards and, to be honest, it’s boring to watch.”

He believes part of the issue may lie with the coaching staff: “I’m in a Liverpool fan group with a few celebrities, and they’re already talking about the manager. I think it might be a bit too early for that, but if there’s a manager out there who can get the best out of this team… We were champions last year, we’ve improved the squad, got better players—but we’ve got worse. That suggests a problem with management, in my opinion. If they can’t get the best out of those players, then maybe we need to look elsewhere.”