Stephen Bunting continues to chase coveted European Tour title: ''My game has never been in a better place"

Stephen Bunting hoped to have a shot at the Baltic Sea Darts Open last weekend, but his plans were scuppered in the third round by eventual winner Rob Cross.

The reigning Masters champion had started the Euro Tour tournament in Kiel with a comfortable 6-3 victory over Andy Baetens. At the last sixteen, however, 'The Bullet' stranded 6-5 against Cross in a spectacle match. 'Voltage' recorded an average of 103.21, compared to 100.91 for Bunting.

''To be honest, I didn’t do much wrong there. We both played extremely well and our finishing was very good too.'' Bunting reflected on his defeat against Cross the day after his elimination.

With it all going with the darts, it could've been decided by the bull-up. ''Who knows what would have happened if I had of won the bull. Guess we will never know but I can’t complain about the way I played – it could have gone either way in the end."

Bunting has so far participated in all Euro Tour tournaments this season and only once failed to reach the final day. At the Euro Tour tournaments in Riesa and Graz, the former Lakeside champion reached the semifinals. After previously losing Euro Tour finals in 2019 (at the Czech Darts Open) and 2023 (at the German Darts Open), Bunting is still chasing his first Euro Tour title.

"Of course I am always disappointed to return home from another European Tour event still without that maiden win. But like I always say, as long as I’m getting to the business end of tournaments, I am always in with a shot. '' Bunting said. "I’m very confident of breaking my duck very soon, ideally this year. My game has never been in a better place so hopefully that will be rewarded with more titles over the coming months.”