In the electrifying world of professional darts, where the oche is a battleground and every treble a declaration of war, few stories capture the imagination like that of a seasoned warrior rising against the prodigy storm. Enter Stephen Bunting, the 40-year-old Englishman from St Helens, known to legions of fans as “The Bullet.” With a career spanning two decades, a BDO World Championship crown from his Lakeside triumph in 2014, and a recent Masters victory that’s still sending ripples through the PDC circuit, Bunting is no stranger to the spotlight. But as the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship looms on the horizon – set to ignite Alexandra Palace from December 11, 2025, to January 3, 2026 – he’s firing a bold warning shot. “That’s my dream…,” Bunting declared in a recent interview, his voice laced with the quiet fire of a man who’s tasted success and hungered for more. He’s not just gunning for the Sid Waddell Trophy; he’s targeting the world number one ranking, and the young phenom standing in his way? None other than 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler.
Bunting’s journey to this moment of defiant optimism has been anything but linear. At 40, he’s defying the narrative that darts is a young man’s game, where teenage wunderkinds like Littler burst onto the scene with averages that shatter records and crowds that chant their names like rock stars. Littler, the reigning PDC World Champion after his stunning 7-3 demolition of Michael van Gerwen in the 2025 final, has redefined the sport’s velocity. At just 17 when he claimed the title last January – becoming the youngest winner in history at 17 years and 347 days – “The Nuke” amassed 10 major titles in his debut professional year, including the UK Open, World Matchplay, and Premier League. His blistering pace, pinpoint checkouts, and unflappable demeanor have turned Ally Pally into his personal coliseum, drawing sell-out crowds and global viewership that rivals football’s marquee clashes. Littler’s 2025 Worlds run was a masterclass: a record 140.91 three-dart average in a set against Ryan Meikle, a 5-2 quarter-final rout of Nathan Aspinall, and a ruthless 6-1 semi-final thrashing of none other than Bunting himself.
Ah, that semi-final – a clash etched in darts lore as both a heartbreak for Bunting and a testament to his resilience. It was January 2, 2025, under the twinkling lights of Alexandra Palace, with 3,500 fans roaring like a tidal wave. Bunting, seeded eighth and fresh off a gritty 5-2 quarter-final win over two-time champion Peter Wright – where he led the crowd in a thunderous rendition of “Let’s go Bunting mental” after sealing victory with a 95.55 average – strode to the stage to the pulsating beats of David Guetta and Sia’s “Titanium.” The air crackled with anticipation; this was the people’s champion against the teenage titan, a narrative ripe for fairy-tale upset. Bunting started strong, opening with a set despite Littler’s blistering 113.35 average. He even stole the fifth set 3-1, his eyes gleaming with the belief that he could turn the tide. “In the back room I felt really nervous, on edge,” Bunting admitted later, channeling the raw vulnerability that endears him to fans. But Littler, with 13 maximum 180s and three ton-plus finishes, was unforgiving. He raced to a 4-0 lead, clinched the sixth with a bullseye 84 checkout after Bunting missed three doubles, and wrapped it 6-1 in the seventh. Bunting’s 100.10 average was elite, yet it felt like shadowboxing a ghost – Littler’s 105.48 tally and clinical precision left no room for error.
That defeat stung, no doubt. Bunting, who had clawed his way to world number five by tournament’s end, watched from the wings as Littler lifted the trophy, pocketing £500,000 and eclipsing Van Gerwen on the Order of Merit. But rather than fade into the background, Bunting used the loss as fuel. “Winning the worlds is a big part to becoming number one,” he reflected in the lead-up to this season, his words a vow etched in steel. The months since have been a redemption arc for the ages. He stormed to his first World Series title at the Bahrain Darts Masters, edging Gerwyn Price 8-4 in the final with a display of unyielding focus. Then came the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen, where he outlasted Rob Cross 8-4, admitting post-match, “The way I have been playing I was wondering whether I was going to win another title again!” His European Tour haul included a stunning 117.12 average in a 6-0 whitewash of Owen Bates – the fourth-highest ever recorded – and runner-up finishes that kept him knocking on the door of the elite.
Now, as the 2026 Worlds draw is unveiled, Bunting sits fourth on the PDC Order of Merit, a seeded powerhouse facing Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki in the first round. It’s a favorable matchup; Bialecki, a second-year Tour Card holder via Q-School, stunned with a Players Championship win earlier this year but lacks the big-stage pedigree to trouble “The Bullet.” Bunting’s path could weave through the likes of Adam Lipscombe or Jonny Clayton, but his eyes are fixed beyond the bracket – on Littler, who headlines as the top seed against Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas. The teenager’s 2025 dominance – 886 maximums, six major crowns – has inflated prize pots and slashed the sport’s average viewer age, but Bunting sees vulnerability in the hype. “Littler is young, but exceptional,” he acknowledged, praising the phenom’s role in darts’ boom. Yet, there’s steel in his tone: at 40, with a young family, a rabid fanbase donning “Bunting Mental” shirts, and a walk-on that ignites arenas, he’s the antidote to youth’s flash – experience wrapped in grit.
What makes Bunting’s warning so potent is the human element. He’s not just chasing stats; he’s pursuing a legacy that bridges eras. From his Lakeside glory at 20, through PDC wilderness years marked by eight-match losing streaks and Premier League struggles, to his 2025 resurgence – reaching semis, snagging majors, and earning a Premier League spot for the first time since 2015 – Bunting embodies darts’ relentless heartbeat. Fans adore him for it: the fist-bumps with Littler during their semi (sparking playful “weird behavior” banter from peers like Dave Chisnall), the emotional embraces post-match, and the way he turns Ally Pally into a singalong. “I’ve got a great fan base behind me. Great management. Great family. Everything feels great,” he said ahead of the tournament, his excitement palpable. “I’m coming in in great form. I think the averages are all up there with the best of the players.”
As December dawns, the Worlds promise fireworks: Humphries defending against Ted Evetts, Van Gerwen versus Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, Clayton facing Lipscombe. But the subtext is Bunting versus the narrative – the veteran who could dethrone the kid and claim the summit. Littler, now 18 and world number one, thrives on pressure, but Bunting’s dream is no idle fancy. It’s a blueprint for what’s possible when hunger outlasts hype. In a sport where a single dart can rewrite destinies, “The Bullet” is locked and loaded. Will he pierce the armor of the Nuke? The oche awaits, and with 625 maximums already this season, Bunting’s arrow is aimed true. At 40, his best chapter might just be beginning – and Littler, for all his brilliance, has been put on notice.
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