"I want to win this title more than anyone" - Emotional Stephen Bunting has Humphries backing ahead of Luke Littler showdown in PDC World Darts Championship semi-final
PDC
Stephen Bunting has qualified for the semifinals of the PDC World Darts Championship for the second time in his career. 'The Bullet' impressively dispatched Peter Wright 5-2 in the quarter-finals on New Years Day at the Alexandra Palace and will now face Luke Littler in the last 4.
Bunting struggled to contain his emotions just afterwards. "If you'd have seen me 10-15 minutes ago, I wouldn't have been able to speak. I was just overwhelmed with tears. To come into this tournament last year at world number 25 and now I'm world number five, it's a pinch me moment to be honest." said the 39-year-old Englishman in his post-match press conference. "But it shows that the hard work behind the scenes is paying off and yeah, I've got a whole day now to recover, recuperate and make sure that the best version of me turns up tomorrow."
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As mentioned pre-match, Bunting's son idolises Peter Wright, with the two time world champion his favourite player (other than his father) on tour. As such, when 'Snakebite' started to fight back, getting from 4-0 down to 4-2, Bunting was well aware of the threat. "I know how good Peter Wright is. He's my son's favourite player for a reason," he explains. "That was also in the back of my mind. So I knew I needed to put him to the sword but yeah, he was so hard to shake off, and the emotion of the whole event got on top of me to be honest."
After training together pre-tournament, Bunting received support from Luke Humphries before the match, whose world title reign was ended at the hands of Wright in the previous round. "He gave me a hug and he said he'd love me to take the title," Bunting reveals with a smile. "So that means a lot to me coming from a player like him."
In the semifinals, Bunting will take on the daunting task of teenage sensation Luke Littler. "I want to win this title more than anyone in the world,” Bunting previews. “It is a massive achievement for me being back in the semi-finals, but I’m here to fight for the title, and I can’t wait for tomorrow night. I’m going to work hard and I’m going to make sure I am ready for this fight!”
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- Tennis has a protected ranking system for injuries and Golf has a system that as a Major winner you get invited back of a number of years regardless of your ranking. Barry Hearn gave Stephen Hendry a wildcard for some tournaments though he still had to enter at the qualification stage. Doubt the PDC would give Burnett an exemption as he has never won a PDC Major, same would apply to Steve Beaton. It’s a slippery slope to abandoning a meritocratic system, if the PDC did do so they could then (for example) award a place to Fallon Sherrock even though she has yet to qualify at any level for a tour card.Mysstree06-01-2025
- I'd have said the same about Ady Lewis,but the PDC is indeed a law unto itself,so sorry bud,get your leg kicking and do it for the good lads!!rick6705-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Surely a World Champion and player with the calibra of Richie should be exempt from ever losing a tour card and having to qualify.richieburnettrocks04-01-2025
- That's true, Richie. Taylor used to call it, "Manley's millions."MrYnyslas197103-01-2025
- The semi finals are so one sided nowadays. Bunting and Dobey had their final in the quarters and simply had no interest once they got behind and gave up., yet both will be whining for premier league places. Earning enough to keep the rankings is more important to most players. Peter Manley got to a final with Phil Taylor but was more happy that he had earned enough to pay off his mortgage and promptly and expectedly whitewashed by Philrichieburnettrocks03-01-2025
- Wessel Nijman nickname should be Ni I Manmedinabello03-01-2025
- Jealously.....a nothing happening player who has won nothing and only redeeming feature is his ever increasing bald spot. He'll be crying he deserves a premier league place next. Class A Tw4trichieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Woodhouse is 36 but looks half that Bunting is 39 ? and looks twice thatrichieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Rydz looks like he has tried to gaffer tape a birds nest to the top of his head. What the hell !richieburnettrocks31-12-2024
- Missed that as was working. Damon must be absolutely gutted. Will be interesting to see Premier League players.ListerAnderson28-12-2024