"This time last week, I wasn't even in the tournament": Stephen Bunting escapes at European Championship after fraught route to Dortmund
PDC
Stephen Bunting delivered a skin saving 160 checkout to defeat Danny Noppert in a last leg decider at the European Championship with Noppert missing the chance to win.
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But it semi summed up Bunting's run in even to the tournament where he could've lost early last week in Maastricht and managed to win through and then now producing a skin saving checkout to win through after only making it to Dortmund last week. He spoke to the media afterwards including DartsNews with great relief.
"I was out, wasn't I? I was literally, to be fair, this time last week I wasn't even in the tournament. I'd done well last week and, yeah, really proud of that 160," said Bunting to the media including DartsNews.
"I took extra time, went back to the water table, composed myself, got to the back of the oche, composed myself again and thought, listen, these are the last three darts in the tournament. You either go in or you're going home and, yeah, thankfully, the first treble landed sweet. The second dart was in and the last dart, I closed my eyes and it was in tops."
A lot can change in 12 months in darts as Bunting knows as he has gone from getting into this tournament with absolute ease to only just getting in on the final day.
"Yeah, it's not the best feeling in the world, to be honest. I think this time last year I was number one coming into this. I lost with a 109 average against Chris Dobey.
"So, yeah, I think I've snuck under the radar this year. I still believe I'm playing really well. Obviously, I'm yet to do it on the big stages, but I'm sure it's coming.
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"I know how good I can be and, yeah, I'll be a thorn in someone's side this week, that's for sure."
Asked to put his finger on why it hasn't happened this time around, he gave his perspective. "I think just the standard of the players is getting better every year. I think there's been so many games this year again. I've lost with 100 averages or high-90 averages and, yeah, I think the important thing is not to get yourself too down.
"You can get dragged into the position where you are in the world and stuff like that as well. Obviously, coming off the back of it, for me, I felt like it was a successful Premier League campaign, but then obviously we're fighting to get back in it for next year, aren't we? So I know I need to produce my best starts to be able to do that for next year."
Stephen Bunting won through.
He has recently gone up in terms of the weight of his dart from his signature 18g barrel up towards 21g and he said that the darts he is throwing in practice show something is on the horizon.
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"No, honestly, what I'm doing in the practice room is crazy. So I believe it's only a matter of time before you guys start seeing it. Yeah, I think there were a lot of tired darts last week, hence the change down to a 21. I was throwing a lot of low darts, but I felt like I was doing that tonight as well. I think there's just a lot of tension in the arm. You want to win, you're trying too hard and, yeah, I think that is the certain position I put myself in.
"I'm still in now. A certain Luke Humphries is ill and not here, so that makes it a tiny bit easier, but I've still got a difficult game next between Searle and Huybrechts; so I won't overlook that. I'll make the most of my day off tomorrow and make sure I'm 100% fit coming back on Saturday. I can't wait and I'm really looking forward to winning. Who knows, 21, 23? I don't know."
Bunting looks to defend huge ranking money
Bunting has spent the last few weeks ill and said that he has given it to his son, but what he will hope to give himself is a defence of his ranking money going into a busy end to the year for him.
"Yes, of course, and I've put myself in that position. Obviously, I had a great World Championship the other year and I know I'm defending that money, but I also know that I'm capable of doing that. Obviously, the increase in prize money has made it slightly easier to defend.
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"I need to get to the quarter-finals now and those semis, but listen, I go into every tournament wanting to win. I've not been well over the last two weeks. I've been full of flu.
"I'm literally breathing through the other side, but for some reason, you can ask my manager. I was really lethargic and tired yesterday and, yes, I was a bit grumpy. I'm not normally like that, and you can ask him again.
"You guys see me every week and I'm normally very laughable. I'm always joking in the practice rooms and that. I've lost that over the last few weeks, I think, just because I didn't feel too good. I feel like I'm getting better every day. I've given it to Theo now, so he's coughing at home and the missus can deal with him."
Bunting speaks after.
But for Bunting who hit a brilliant 160 checkout, he ran through that as well as discussing how in his mind it is all a bonus as he wasn't originally in the field anyway.
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"When the first treble went in, I thought I've got a chance. When the second one went in, I thought I've got a big chance. Then, obviously, the tops went in. It was a great moment. I don't think Danny was too happy, but they're the moments that happen in darts that you remember for a long time. Who knows? I could go on to win this tournament now. Everyone will talk about that 160.
"It's all about regrouping, having a good day off tomorrow, coming back and feeling fresh. We go again. Like I said, my performance will be different. There were a lot of things flying through my brain today: the change in weight, obviously getting to the venue and not feeling too well over the last few weeks. This time last week, I wasn't here. I'm forever grateful."
Finding extra percentage
While he also discussed finding that extra percentage and said that the equipment change is very much done with that in mind after tinkering beforehand.
"I think you're always looking to get that extra percentage. For me, I always wanted to go to a K-Flex. I was having problems with my flight and stem. I was losing my flight off my stem quite a lot.
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"The only way I could do that was obviously to increase the length of the barrel and shorten my stem. The K-Flex, which is working really well, just worked fantastic there for the 160.
"I believe the more I play with these darts, the better I'm going to get. I literally have thrown for 15–20 minutes with them, 21 grams. To be one of the best players in the world, I know he didn't play to his best, but I can take a lot of confidence away from that.
"Obviously, the run I had last week, getting to the semi-final as well, and the 160 finish. There are lots of different bits of positives that I can take. Like I said, the day after tomorrow, I'll relax. I'll make sure I'm ready for Saturday, coming back, and you'll see a different Stephen Bunting on Saturday."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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