"I’ve just watched it back, I’m sat here crying my eyes out": Stephen Bunting set off emotions looking back on lifetime Lakeside ambition

For Stephen Bunting, winning the BDO World Championship in 2014 was far more than just a world title. The Englishman had dreamed since childhood of becoming world champion and finally saw that dream come true at Lakeside. When the decisive dart hit the board, the then 28-year-old Liverpudlian could barely contain his emotions.

Bunting beat Alan Norris 7-4 in the final to claim his first world crown. Although already an experienced player, nothing could prepare him for the emotions that surged after he won the last leg. In his book Bulletproof, Bunting described in detail what unfolded on the Lakeside stage.

“I’ve just watched it back. I’m sat here crying my eyes out," penned Bunting. "I’d just achieved my lifetime dream. I’d won the BDO World Championship at the Lakeside.

The images from that night remain vivid. Even the smell of the food in the legendary darts temple takes Bunting back to the moment everything changed. “I can still smell the fish and chips being served at the back of the venue."

On the other side of the stage stood Norris, who despite the disappointment went straight to his compatriot and friend. The two shared a firm embrace as the arena erupted. Bunting, though, could hardly process what was happening.

“My opponent, Alan Norris, came in for a hug. It was a big hug and we were sweating all over each other. He slapped my back. We were genuine mates and he was in my ear, congratulating me. I was trying to get my bearings among the torrent of cheers and lights and applause.

Even when Norris ruffled his hair, Bunting couldn’t force a smile. The emotion was simply too great. “It was everything I’d ever wanted since I first threw a dart as a young boy. Not the sweaty hug from Alan. Winning the Lakeside.”

His darts were scattered across the stage after the winning leg. One dart had even dropped to the floor. The other two remained in the board, one in single 11 and the other perfectly in double 16.

Bunting was then guided to the front of the stage, where he was met by hundreds of ecstatic fans. He gave the crowd a double thumbs-up and took a deep bow.

“I was ushered towards the front of the stage. I gave the crowd a double thumbs up, an applause and then I took one of the biggest inhales of breath I’ve ever taken.

“There were hundreds of smiling faces, everyone on their feet. I bent down, giving it the, ‘I’m not worthy’ bow. I still don’t know if I am. I’m just a bloke from Liverpool who likes to throw an arrow."

He then pulled his darts from the board and slipped them into his breast pocket. He had done that hundreds, perhaps thousands of times. But this time was different. "I finally picked my third dart up from the floor. It was starting to sink in. I picked my other two darts out of the board, shook the referee’s hand (a young Huw Ware for all you dart referee fans) and tucked my darts into my top pocket. I’d put them in that pocket hundreds, thousands of times before, but never as World Champion."

The emotions only intensified during the interviews. Bunting waited at the side of the stage for his BBC interview, tears streaming down his face. He even had to take off his glasses because he could no longer hold them back. Norris helped with a towel as Bunting tried to compose himself.

Presenter Rob Walker then made it even tougher. He pointed out that great champions had gone before him on the same stage and that his dream had finally come true.

Bunting lasted about twenty seconds before he broke again. His thoughts went to his little boy Toby, who was at home with his grandparents. Walker also mentioned his father, who had spent the entire week in a campervan to avoid missing a single match.

“I was thinking of my boy back home with his grandparents. He was just a baby at the time. ‘Toby, I love you,’ I said. And that’s it. I was crying again.

“Rob Walker, the bugger, brought up my dad who had been staying in a camper van all week. He wanted to be at every match. I squeezed out, ‘I love you too’ to my dad, and now I was really gone. Crying like a baby. The tears of a champion,’ said Rob as I hid in another massive hug from Alan. He rubbed my back, laughing at the madness of it all.”

Eventually, Bunting composed himself enough to truly live the moment he had waited for all his life. He took the trophy, lifted it above his head, and was officially crowned the 2014 BDO world champion. “A minute later, I had pulled myself together to hold the trophy in my hands, lifting it up to the crowd. The BDO World Champion, 2014.

“I’d achieved everything I had ever dreamed of. I was still in my twenties. I still felt like a kid. How could I ever top this?”