"Not just playing darts, but the fan base, the walk-on": Stephen Bunting says Premier League Darts pick was justified, shrugs off social media criticism

Stephen Bunting has been a fixture inside the world’s top 10 for some time. The 40-year-old Englishman was recently selected for the 2026 Premier League Darts line-up and, when speaking ahead of the new season, sounded upbeat, reflective and quietly determined.

But behind the familiar smile is a player who admits the past year has taken its toll — on the oche, mentally, and privately.

Ahead of the main ranking events getting underway, Bunting had already travelled extensively as part of the World Series of Darts, with appearances in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. While he values the opportunity, he is clear about where those events sit in the wider picture. “Obviously the World Series is brilliant to be a part of,” he said on The Darts Show Podcast. “But there’s no ranking. It’s just coming out and trying to improve our sport and show people what we can actually do in different places that we’ve never been before.”

Those trips still came with their own challenges. Returning to Bahrain as defending champion brought added pressure, even if the experience itself remained a positive one. “Obviously, I won it the year before, so I felt a tiny bit of pressure going into that tournament,” Bunting explained. “But I really enjoyed my time over there.”

Bunting’s most recent World Championship exit sparked debate and scrutiny, but he insists much of the context went unseen. “I think people don’t see what went on behind the scenes before the Worlds,” he said.

On Christmas Day, family concerns took priority. His youngest son, Theo, was seriously unwell. “Christmas Day, I was in A&E with Theo until two o’clock in the morning,” Bunting revealed. “I’m never one to make excuses, so I didn’t publicly put that out.”

The disruption didn’t end there. Bunting was also battling illness himself while juggling a heavy schedule in the lead-up to the tournament. “I did four exhibitions leading up to the Worlds. I wasn’t well — I had a cough and a cold. I was really ill,” he said. “But I still managed to get through them exhibitions.”

By the time the World Championship arrived, preparation had clearly suffered. “I went into the Worlds not in my best preparation, not feeling the greatest,” he admitted. “Evidently, that led me down a dodgy path.”

Although there were flashes of quality on stage, Bunting felt he was not himself. “I didn’t feel like I played my best games at all, but I still tried to give it my all,” he said. “There were moments of class at the end of legs, taking out big finishes and winning sets, but I gave a bit of emotion away.”

That emotional display stood out precisely because it was unusual. “I was jumping up and down — I’m not really like that,” he said. “But just for everything that had gone on before that, being in hospital until two in the morning, travelling the next day — it wasn’t the best preparation.”

The takeaway is clear. Lessons have been learned. “This year I’m going to take it a bit easier on the exhibition circuit,” Bunting explained. “I’m going to plan my diary a lot better, make sure I look after myself, and make sure that the best version you see is the best version that I can give.”

Despite the World Championship disappointment, Bunting was named in the Premier League line-up, a decision that divided opinion in some quarters. The player himself remained calm. “I was number four for, what, ten months of the year,” he said. “I had a great start to the year, not the best end to the year, so I can understand why people were saying I shouldn’t be in.”

Still, he felt his case was clear. “I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give,” he added. “Not just playing darts, but the fan base, the walk-on, everything like that.”

The moment of confirmation came unexpectedly late. “I didn’t find out until like ten or fifteen minutes before it was actually announced,” Bunting recalled. “I gave a little fist pump on the plane.”

Sitting nearby was fellow Premier League selection Nathan Aspinall. “We were delayed on the plane, so Nathan was sat two seats away from me,” he said. “He saw the fist pump, so he obviously knew then.”

The feeling was one of relief rather than celebration. “Listen, it was relief,” Bunting admitted. “But I know that I need to work hard again this year to make sure I’m in it next year. I always want to be part of the Premier League.”

Reflecting on his previous campaign, he believes the positives have sometimes been overlooked. “I didn’t have the greatest campaign last year, but I showed what a fighter I was,” he said. “I ended up winning a night in Berlin. I believe I had one of the highest tournament averages last year, so there were several positives.”

As with many players at the top of the game, Bunting has had to contend with criticism beyond the board. Social media speculation intensified following the World Championship, with rumours ranging from deselection to retirement. “I’ve seen one the other day that I’m retiring,” he said. “But if I believed half the stuff that I read on social media, then I’d have packed in a long time ago.”

He makes a conscious effort to distance himself from the negativity. “My management and my missus look at the social media side of things,” Bunting explained. “I still see the odd comment pop through, but those people that are very negative — some of them are just idiots, really.”

When questioned by pundits or critics, he prefers to let the numbers speak. “I won six titles last year. I was in ten finals. I had one of the highest tournament averages, especially on the Players Championships,” he said. “It was the best season I’ve had in the PDC since I moved from the BDO.”

He also points to continued support from fans. “I still try and do the engagement with fans whenever we’re away,” he said. “I still see the support. I’m still loved by the fans.”

Currently ranked world number seven, Bunting believes stepping away from the intense pressure of the top four could actually work in his favour. “People don’t realise how difficult that number four position is,” he explained. “You put pressure on yourself. You want to stay in that top four and be guaranteed Premier League without these discussions.”

In hindsight, that mindset may have been counterproductive. “Obviously, that probably was my downfall, rather than just enjoying the game,” he admitted.

Now, he is embracing a different outlook. “I think being number seven in the world now is going to benefit me so much,” he said. “I’m going to embrace still being one of the best players in the world and embrace playing in the Premier League and the World Series.”

A key part of that reset involves hypnotherapy — something Bunting credits heavily for his renewed sense of balance. “I’m back on top of the hypnotherapy as well,” he said. “It’s something I probably slacked away from a bit last season, and that’s on me.”

Working regularly with hypnotherapist Chris O’Connor, Bunting describes the process in simple terms. “The way he describes it is you’ve got a bucket in your brain,” he explained. “Every negative thought or emotion goes into that bucket. Eventually it overflows — and that’s where stress, anxiety and dartitis come from.”

Hypnotherapy, he says, helps keep that bucket empty. “A 40-minute session is the equivalent of four hours REM sleep,” Bunting added. “So yeah, really important.”

The effects are already noticeable. “I feel fresh. I feel positive. I’m talking positively with a smile on my face,” he said. “I honestly can’t wait for this season to start.”

Despite his optimism, Bunting is deliberately avoiding rigid goal-setting. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,” he said. “I’ve shied away from saying what I’m going to do or not do.”

Instead, the focus is on preparation and balance. “As long as I’m working hard at home, on the practice board, and mentally preparing myself for each tournament, that’s all I can do,” he explained.

At 40, retirement is not on his radar. “I still believe I’ve got a good ten years left at the top of our sport,” Bunting said. “As long as I’m playing with a smile on my face and enjoying it, I’ll be around for a long time.”

That smile, he admits, has a lot to do with family. Theo has since made a full recovery. “He’s running round the house now,” Bunting said. “He’s still only 14 months, but he’s such a joy to have in my life. He makes me smile every single day.”

Together with his older son Toby and his partner, they remain his driving force. “I play darts for him, for Toby, and for the missus,” Bunting said. “They’re the reason I do what I do.”