Stephen Bunting’s remarkable Premier League Darts record puts unique spin on Luke Littler win

Stephen Bunting’s victory over Luke Littler on Night 10 of the 2026 Premier League Darts came with a remarkable statistical twist, as the Englishman set a new record for the most darts at a double in a single match this season.

During his 6-4 quarter-final win in Brighton, Stephen Bunting had 23 darts at a double, the highest figure recorded in any match so far in this year’s Premier League campaign. Rather than pointing to a lack of control, the number instead highlighted just how often Bunting put himself in winning positions.

Time and again, he worked his way into finishes against a below-par Littler, creating a steady stream of opportunities across the match. Even with a high number of missed doubles, the volume of chances ensured the result was never truly slipping away.

Against an opponent renowned for his scoring power and clinical finishing, that level of control tells its own story.

This is not the first time Bunting has featured prominently in this statistic. Earlier in the season, he recorded 21 darts at a double in a single match on Night 6, making him the only player to appear twice at the top end of this list. It underlines a clear trend. He consistently gives himself chances to win legs, often more than his opponents.

That same pattern was visible later in the evening. In his semi-final against Michael van Gerwen, Bunting again generated enough opportunities to take control of the match. This time, however, the missed doubles proved decisive.

Van Gerwen punished those lapses at key moments and edged through a deciding leg, ending Bunting’s run despite another competitive display.

Bunting is not alone when it comes to this statistic. Defending champion Luke Humphries sits second on the list with 22 attempts at a double in a match earlier in the campaign, while Littler himself has also recorded the same figure this season.

It reinforces a broader theme across the Premier League. While scoring often grabs the headlines, matches are frequently decided by what happens on the doubles. A high number of darts at a finish can point to dominance, but it also shows how fine the margins are when it comes to converting those chances.

For Bunting, the takeaway from Brighton is ultimately encouraging. Beating the league leader and pushing Van Gerwen all the way in the same night underlines his ability to compete with the very best in the field. If he can combine that consistent scoring with sharper finishing, he has the potential to become a real threat in the closing weeks of the league phase.

Until then, his Night 10 performance stands as a reminder of both his strengths and the small margins that continue to define his campaign.