"I've not prepared well – there’s been a lot going on at home": Stephen Bunting overcomes off-board issues with strong World Grand Prix opener

Stephen Bunting has admitted in conversation with Dartsnews.com and other outlets, his build-up to the World Grand Prix had been far from ideal – but the former Lakeside world champion showed no signs of rust as he stormed past Niko Springer in straight sets on Monday night in Leicester.

“The Bullet” averaged 97.02, landed five 180s and produced superb 116 and 130 finishes in what was arguably the standout performance of opening night in Leicester. It was a result that looked anything but straightforward on paper, with Springer arriving full of confidence after a string of strong European Tour displays.

Yet Bunting’s experience told from the off. He took advantage of the German’s missed doubles to whitewash the opening set 3–0, before holding off a late rally in the second to close out a 2–0 victory and book a second-round meeting with Danny Noppert.

“I’ve not really prepared as well as I’d have liked,” Bunting admitted afterwards in his post-match press conference. “There’s been a lot going on at home. Obviously, it’s been a hectic schedule – we were in Budapest, then Basel, then the Pro Tours, and now here. I made sure I gave myself one extra day off. I did some painting and decorating at home, so the arm was working that way – and it’s done me no harm!”

If his practice regime wasn’t perfect, his doubling certainly was. The St Helens thrower hit half of his attempts at double, including that trademark double 18, and was quick to highlight how crucial it is to get off strongly in the double-start format.

“I think I was in every time on my first three darts, which is really good,” he said. “That puts your opponent under pressure straight away. I’ve been here quite a few times and made the semi-finals twice, but I think that was the best crowd I’ve ever played in front of at the Grand Prix. It was packed to the rafters tonight, a brilliant atmosphere. They were mental, which always helps!”

While Bunting’s performance had all the hallmarks of a player in control, he insisted it wasn’t entirely comfortable. Springer began to find his range midway through the second set, forcing Bunting to hold his nerve with a series of pressure finishes – none more so than the 130 checkout that effectively sealed the win.

“I was a bit ropey at times, but I reined in the nerves, hit my doubles at the right moments, and yeah, that 130 was massive,” he reflected. “He pushed me a bit in that second set, so I’m just happy to get over the line.”

The former Premier League star also revealed a small but significant tactical decision he made during the match – staying on stage during the mid-set break to maintain momentum. “It was really warm up there, to be honest,” he said. “I probably shouldn’t have stayed on stage during the break, but I was playing well and wanted to keep the momentum going. Sometimes when you go off stage, you lose that focus. I remember last year I was a set up on Luke Humphries, went off, lost momentum, and ended up losing the game because of it. So this time I stayed out there, kept my rhythm, and thankfully it worked.”

That rhythm will be needed again when he faces Danny Noppert in round two. The Dutchman, who produced a brilliant 158 checkout to turn around his own first-round clash against Jermaine Wattimena, has the pedigree and consistency to test anyone in the field.

“Danny’s a great player – same as Niko, another dangerous opponent,” said Bunting. “But it’s a longer format now, so I can relax a bit more. I’ve got a day off tomorrow, so I’ll just keep preparing the way I have been. I know how good I can be on my day, but I also know how good Danny can be. I just need to make sure I’m better than him on the day.”

For a player juggling a busy schedule and life away from the oche, this was a performance that underlined his growing maturity and belief. If this is what Bunting produces when “not prepared well,” the rest of the field might want to take note.