Stephen Bunting has fulfilled his recent sporting success in magnificent fashion. After his impressive semi-final finish at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace - where he was stranded against later world champion Luke Littler, 'The Bullet' was able to credit a whopping £100,000 to his account.
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Instead of opting for luxury or extravagance, the 41-year-old Englishman decided to invest the money in quality time with his family.
"Part of my money went on the garden and then we've also just bought a caravan in a Haven site in North Wales," Bunting told Spin Bet. “It’s a lovely get away from the house and from playing darts to spend some time with my family.
For Bunting, who already became world champion with the BDO in 2014, success is now more about peace than fame. "Haven sites are always great for the kids so there is plenty to do there, and it isn't too far away with it being an hour-and-a-half from down the road. I can be in my own luxury caravan out the way and loving life."
There was not much time to enjoy himself at home after the World Championship. "After the Worlds, I didn't get much time off because I came back on the day of the final, got home and had not seen the baby for a week and I had her in my arms. My manager then rang me and said I was going to Germany for a pro-am gala, so I wasn't at home too much to spend any money."
After his World Championship run, things progressed athletically for the Liverpool-based dart player. He won both the Bahrain Darts Masters and his first-ever European Tour title at the International Darts Open in Germany, racking up £30,000 each time.
With now £573,000 in earnings, Bunting is firmly in fourth place on the PDC Order of Merit. Yet he also had difficult moments, especially in Premier League Darts. For the first time in a decade, he was part of the prestigious eight-man squad, as a reward for his performance at the World Cup.
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However, that return was difficult: Bunting lost his first eight games in a row. Only on evening nine, in Berlin, he could record his first victory. This was followed by several semifinals, but with 12 points, he was ultimately stuck at the bottom of the standings, just behind Rob Cross. His total earned premium in the Premier League came to £60,000, including a £10,000 bonus for his only evening win.
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- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
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