"The longer he goes without winning one, the harder it is": James Wade says 'devil on his shoulder' in Stephen Bunting Premier League case

Stephen Bunting started the new year with a bang. He reached the semifinals of the World Darts Championship, where he eventually lost 6-1 to eventual world champion Luke Littler. He then steamed on with a tournament victory at the Bahrain Darts Masters and a final place at the Dutch Darts Masters.

So it was no surprise at all that Bunting, currently moved up to fifth in the world rankings, was selected for the Premier League Darts. Where there was much debate about other players (think Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall), almost everyone agreed that Bunting had more than earned his place. Moreover, 'The Bullet' has become a real crowd pleaser in recent years, another aspect of Premier League Darts that should not be underestimated.

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But the sporting certainly weighed in. Bunting reached no fewer than six finals at last year's Players Championship (all of which he lost, by the way), and almost all analysts agreed that he had a chance of final victory in Premier League Darts this year. But nothing could be further from the truth, after all, after eight days of play, Bunting is still waiting for his first win in Premier League Darts.

Stephen 'The Bullet' Bunting

Lack of belief

Bunting is therefore currently disconsolately at the bottom of the standings, which also surprises James Wade - former Premier League Darts winner. “It wouldn’t be the first time we have seen great players enter the Premier League and struggle, then it having a knock-on effect on their rankings later on afterwards.  

“I can’t believe it either. I would say probably the first two to three weeks it might have been unfortunate.  

“Now he’s made himself too aware that he has not won a game. The only reason why he has not won a game is not because of his ability.”

Wade, the world No. 11, suggested that the mental burden of his run without victories is affecting Bunting's performance on stage. He added: "The Devil is on his shoulder. And the longer he goes without winning one, the harder it is.  

“He might be at a point now in the Premier League where he stops worrying about it so much and just lets it happen.”

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