Stephen Bunting set for practice sessions with Humphries & Littler ahead of Ally Pally: "That will put me in good stead"

Stephen Bunting has had an outstanding year. The Bullet captured his first PDC major title at the Masters and also played in six Players Championship finals over the course of the Pro Tour. The world number eight is now focusing on a good performance at the upcoming World Darts Championship in Alexandra Palace, where he reached the semi-finals in 2021.

Bunting is already leaving nothing to chance in his preparation for the World Championship, bringing in some all-star practice partners. "Me and Luke Humphries touched on it around six months ago," recalls Bunting in quotes collected by Oche180. "We'll have two or three sessions before the Worlds definitely and that will put me in good stead, practicing with one of the best players in the world at the minute."

As it turns out, Bunting isn't settling for just the world number one and world champion as a pre-World Championship practice partner. "Me and Luke Littler have also talked about it, we're quite close with his team and I really like Luke, he's brought a different air to the scene of darts at the minute," says the former Lakeside champion. "Everyone is talking about him."

Bunting also looked closely at the World Championship draw and one duel in particular caught his eye, the one involving the teenage sensation Littler and the potential showdown with Fallon Sherrock. "Even as a dart player, I'm really looking forward to that match," he previews. "The crowd will be unbelievable too so yeah, it's something to look forward to."

About his own draw, Bunting had the following to say. "I've got my parenting duties at the moment, but I've got a few exhibitions to make sure I'm in top shape going it. I'll be making sure they face the best Stephen Bunting," the 39-year-old Englishman concluded.