"They’re the motivation that keeps me going": Stephen Bunting has airport and return home to family firmly in his sights

Stephen Bunting admitted he was “happy with the win but disappointed with the performance” after battling past Ben Robb to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters.

Speaking after his victory in his press conference, Bunting confessed he wasn’t at his best on stage. “Yeah, but I just don’t know what happened. It wasn’t my best game in the world. I’m happy with the win, but disappointed with the performance. I’m through to the quarter-finals now, I’ve got a night to recoup. I’ll watch Liverpool tomorrow and then I’ll be ready to go tomorrow night.”

Robb had been one of the toughest possible draws, but Bunting said he took confidence from knowing the challenge ahead. “Yeah, the same as last week, to be honest. I knew I had a player in form. When you know who you’ve got to play, it gives you that bit more incentive to go and win, whereas sometimes you could be going into the unknown. I was happy that I got the win, don’t get me wrong. I’m really happy to still be in the tournament, but I’m disappointed in my performance. I know I can be better.”

The former Lakeside champion admitted his form hasn’t quite clicked during the World Series swing. “It could be a number of different things. Obviously, it’s been a long tour, and being on the other side of the world, we try so hard. I’m over here, I want to play my best darts. Tonight it didn’t happen, but who’s to say it won’t happen tomorrow?

“You’ve seen a few people were ill last week – I’ve been lucky, touch wood, that I feel great. I felt great today, I was practising really well. If you ask my manager, he’ll tell you how well I was practising, and then for whatever reason, I got up on stage and it just didn’t happen. I’m sure I’ll be ready for tomorrow. I think I’ve got Dobey or Whitlock, so it’s another tough game, but if I play my best, I know I’ve got the game to win.”

Despite the challenges of the long haul, Bunting admitted his thoughts are already turning towards home: "It’s been in sight for about 12 days, to be honest. I can’t wait to get home. I FaceTime them every single day. Theo’s now picking the bottle up himself and feeding himself – that wasn’t happening before I left. Little things are happening back home, and I can’t wait to get back and see my family, because they’re the motivation that keeps me going.”

Bunting, a lifelong Liverpool fan, revealed he’ll be setting his alarm early to catch the first Premier League game of the season. “Yes, of course. First game of the season, the excitement’s there for that, so I’m looking forward to watching it in the morning. We’ll then go for breakfast, and I’ll probably have a couple of hours to recoup in the afternoon. I know I’m first on tomorrow night, so I won’t be too stupid tonight. I’ll make sure I’m in bed early, ready to watch the match, and ready for tomorrow’s game – because that’s what I’m here for. That’s the most important thing.”

The conversation quickly turned to transfers, with Bunting closely following the Reds’ activity even from the other side of the world. “Yes, of course. I think they’ve done fantastic, to be honest, bringing in some of the players. The Isak transfer saga still rumbles on in the background. I think Leoni is a great signing, and I think Gueye could still happen. There’s still a lot more movement in the transfer window before it shuts.”

He joked that the topic had been dominating conversations with Chris Dobey on tour regarding Alexander Isak. “Yes, every single day, to be honest. Hopefully we can get that deal over the line. It looks like he doesn’t want to play for Newcastle for whatever reason, but it would be great to get such an established striker in. Whether that happens over the next few days, we’ll wait and see. Hopefully it does happen.”