"The man has come to believe he’s an icon" - Vincent van der Voort on rise of crowd favourite Stephen Bunting
PDCThursday, 23 January 2025 at 11:43
Stephen Bunting has become a real crowd favorite in recent years. The 39-year-old Englishman owes this in part to his walk on song, which he and the audience sing along loudly.
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Bunting invariably hits the stage during major tournaments with the song "Titanium" by David Guetta ft. Sia. The audience feasts on it, as do the many videos on social media that Bunting posts almost daily. It earned him the hashtag "Bunting Mental" on social media.
But Bunting's mannerisms also arouse irritation, as the podcast 'Darts Draait Door' revealed. "When he comes up and throws 180, he turns around and stands with his hands gesturing to the audience. I hope that dampens down a bit more in the coming weeks," said presenter Damian Vlottes.
"The man has come to believe he’s an icon. This is going to be sixteen long weeks like this for you," adds co-presenter Vincent van der Voort.
Stephen Bunting won the Bahrain Darts Masters last week
Bahrain Darts Masters
Bunting impressed just last week by winning the Bahrain Darts Masters. In the final of this first tournament of the World Series of Darts 2025, he defeated Gerwyn Price 8-4. "Credit where credit is due: he wins the tournament and throws really well. He's really comfortable and playing better than ever. It (his behavior, ed.) also comes from that a little bit. That lollygagging is also more relaxation," said Van der Voort.
"It's up to all the other darters to stop that and punish it. Then it will slow down quickly, although I think with Bunting you always keep this."
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The Bullet is back in action this weekend. The Dutch Darts Masters takes place in 's-Hertogenbosch, the second tournament of the World Series of Darts this year;
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