When taking a look at the field of participants for the Grand Slam of Darts, the name Stowe Buntz will undoubtedly raise eyebrows among the general darting public. The 44-year-old American is the big unknown in the lineup for the prestigious tournament in Wolverhampton.
Via statistics platform Darts Orakel, it can be seen that he competed at the PDC US Open in 2007 and 2008. He also competed in the North American Darts Championship in 2008. Buntz did not appear on the radar again until 2022 after that.
On the CDC Tour 2022, he initially couldn't make a mark until the final weekend. Buntz then made two finals, but a title failed to materialize. Moreover, he did not come close to qualifying spots for the World Darts Championship.
At the first CDC Tournament of 2023, Buntz again reached the finals, but also lost this one. At the second tournament weekend (CDC Tour 4-6), a semifinal place was the highlight.
Hat-trick on CDC Tour helps Buntz qualify for World Darts Championship
The third tournament weekend of the CDC Tour was in Cambridge, Canada, in August. Nothing looked like Buntz was still a contender for the World Championship spots, but out of nowhere that weekend he won three titles in a row. There was then one more tournament weekend to go and thanks to a final place on the final weekend, he held off the experienced Leonard Gates to grab a starting ticket to the World Darts Championship.
The sixteen best players in North America were then allowed to compete in the CDC Continental Cup and, of course, Buntz was there. With victories over Jake Macmillan (5-2), Larry Butler (6-2), Jacob Taylor (7-2) and Jason Brandon (8-6), Buntz won that tournament, which also qualified him for the Grand Slam of Darts.
It also earned him placement for the US Darts Masters in 2024, something Buntz is looking forward to even more than participating in the Grand Slam of Darts and at the Alexandra Palace.
"The Grand Slam of Darts and the World Championships are obviously great, but if I can pick out one tournament it's the US Darts Masters. To play in front of my home crowd in Madison Square Garden against the best players in the world is a dream come true. I am eager to show my talent and give the PDC top players a run for their money'', he told Online Darts.
The American Peter Wright
He will get that chance in the coming weeks during the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship as well. At least people who have already seen him play on the stream during the CDC Tour have already seen that 'Buntzy' is no dull sight.
With bright yellow or pink pants and shirts with all sorts of colorful patterns, Buntz looks particularly festive for a darter. Now for a Mohawk, and Buntz can rightfully be called the American Peter Wright.
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