In a thrilling twist to the Premier League Darts saga, teenage sensation Luke Littler has once again proven his mettle, this time with a cheeky nod to his rival Stephen Bunting following a night of high drama in Berlin. On April 3, 2025, the darts world watched as Bunting, affectionately known as “The Bullet,” finally shattered his agonizing winless streak in the competition, clinching a stunning victory on night nine. Littler, the reigning world champion and a prodigy at just 18, couldn’t resist a playful jab, taking to his Instagram story with a six-word message that echoed a prediction he’d made just days earlier: “What did I say last week?” Accompanied by a winking emoji and a photo of Bunting basking in his triumph, the quip was a masterstroke of confidence and camaraderie.
The backdrop to this moment is nothing short of cinematic. Bunting, a 39-year-old veteran from St. Helens, had endured a torrid run in the 2025 Premier League season. Before Berlin, he sat rock bottom of the table with zero points, a stark contrast to his world No. 4 ranking and his Bahrain Masters title earlier in the year. His drought stretched back to 2015, with a string of 12 consecutive defeats in this year’s campaign alone—teetering on the edge of matching Peter Wright’s unwanted record of 13 losses set between 2019 and 2020. The pressure was palpable, and Bunting himself had admitted to piling it on, saying after a previous loss, “I’m putting too much pressure on myself.” Yet, in Berlin, something clicked.
The night began with Bunting facing Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals. Against all odds, he emerged victorious with a 6-4 scoreline, finally tasting that elusive first win. The relief was evident as he later told reporters, “To be honest, after the first win, I was just so relieved to get off zero points. I have put a lot of work in behind the scenes. I have tried 110 per cent every week, without fail.” Momentum carried him forward as he dispatched world No. 1 Luke Humphries 6-2 in the semi-finals, setting up a tense final against Gerwyn Price. The decider was a nail-biter, with the first six legs going against the throw before Bunting seized control with a 96 checkout, edging Price 6-5 to claim his maiden Premier League night win. “This is such a special moment,” he beamed afterward. “There have been times during the Premier League where I’ve thought: ‘Could I finish on zero points?’ To get off the mark tonight and win a night, it’s such a special feeling.”
Littler, meanwhile, had an uncharacteristically off night. The teenager, who’d been a dominant force atop the leaderboard, crashed out early in a 6-2 defeat to Chris Dobey. Struggling with his doubles, he couldn’t find the rhythm that had seen him whitewash Bunting 6-0 just a week prior in Newcastle—a match where he’d averaged 109 and offered sage advice: “Once he gets that first win, I’m sure he’ll win quite a few in the Premier League.” That prediction, made with the confidence of a darts oracle, proved prophetic in Berlin, and Littler wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.
The exchange underscores the unique dynamic between the two players. Despite their age gap and contrasting fortunes—Littler chasing records and Bunting battling demons—they share a mutual respect forged in the crucible of competition. Littler’s earlier comments revealed his belief in Bunting’s potential: “If I was Stephen now, I’d say you’ve just got to relax. You’ve just got to say, come on, just win that first game. And I’m sure once he gets that first win and gets that winning feeling, then he’ll go on. Hopefully, I think he could win a night.” Bunting, for his part, has leaned into that support, shrugging off the haters and vowing to keep pushing, as he’d told fans after the Newcastle rout: “I’ll never give up, and I’ll always try 110 per cent to achieve my goals.”
Berlin’s night nine wasn’t just a personal triumph for Bunting; it reshuffled the Premier League narrative. While Littler still holds a commanding lead, Bunting’s resurgence hints at a late-season twist. For now, though, the spotlight lingers on Littler’s six-word taunt—a reminder that even in defeat, “The Nuke” knows how to steal the show. As the tour heads to Manchester next, darts fans are left wondering: can Bunting build on this breakthrough, or will Littler’s prophecy fuel an even fiercer rivalry? One thing’s certain—the oche is heating up, and the story’s far from over.
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