"I've played quite well, but I just haven't had results" - Stephen Bunting stops the losing streak with much-needed win in Belgian Darts Open second round

Stephen Bunting has qualified for the last sixteen of the 2025 Belgian Darts Open. 'The Bullet' defeated Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 in his opening match and now gets to take on Daryl Gurney

Bunting had to come back from a 3-0 deficit against Wattimena, but then won six legs in a row and thus the match. "It's always nice to win," Bunting opened in a post-match interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "That's what it's all about. When things aren't going great, you have to look for something to gain confidence and this was definitely one. I continue to believe in myself despite everything, even with the state of play in the Premier League. I've played quite well, but I just haven't had results from it. There's no point frustrating myself in that, because I know how good I can be."

"I was talking about it recently with Dave Chisnall," he continues. "You have to realize for once how good you are. I even pulled out a quote from a movie of Peter Pan, when he forgot who he was for a moment and then after eating some food remembered. It's something similar. Look at what you've done in the past, at the archives. You know, I just have to build on this. The first few months of this season have actually been pretty successful."

Again in Wieze, the crowd was massively behind loveable Bunting. "I'm not going to get tired of it any time soon, I think. It's phenomenal to have such a fan base. It's also just who I am, you know. Whether you run into me in a shop, on a stage or somewhere backstage ... That's me. Now not that I'm going to stand in a shop with my arms open, but you know what I mean (laughs)."

The fans loudly sang along to the rise song of Bunting (Titanium by David Guetta ft. Sia). "It's important that people acknowledge you and I was able to do that with this. Thanks to my son, it's his favourite song. He's my big secret and these days he's on TV more often than I am. But the line with "bullet proof" and the "nothing to lose," with that mentality you have to start every race. It always grabs me, that message, and then when you fall behind 0-3 like today, it does help to make a comeback."

Bunting throws tremendously light arrows, barely 18 grams, unlike most other players who are around 22-23 grams. "A few years ago I was throwing 12 grams. When you play in such a big venue, including on the European Tour, there is often a bit more wind. With those super light darts I felt I had too little control. That's a lot better now with the 18-gram darts. It feels different, but I just throw better. Even though there are still nervous moments, but still. What if I would swap darts with Ryan Searle (who throws 32 grams and before even 36 grams, ed.)? My arm would fall off, I think! No, not so long ago we swapped darts once when throwing in at the World Championship. I threw a 180 with his darts and he had to bend down to pick up my darts, so."