In the electrifying arena of St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, where the air hummed with anticipation and the thud of darts hitting the board echoed like distant thunder, Stephen Bunting etched another chapter into his remarkable resurgence. The 40-year-old Englishman, affectionately known as “The Bullet,” stormed to victory in the Swiss Darts Trophy, clinching his second European Tour title of 2025 with a commanding 8-3 defeat over Luke Woodhouse in the final. The £30,000 prize money was sweet, but for Bunting, the real magic lay in the peculiar secret weapon strapped to his feet: a pair of spiky shoes that looked more suited to a fashion-forward hedgehog than a world-class darts player.
Picture this: amid the high-stakes drama of professional darts, where precision is everything and mental fortitude separates legends from pretenders, Bunting arrived at the oche— that unforgiving red line marking the throwing zone— sporting footwear adorned with sharp, upward-pointing spikes. It wasn’t a bid for attention or a nod to avant-garde style; it was a practical fix born of frustration. “I was playing in expensive shoes without the spikes, and they were marking,” Bunting revealed post-match, his Merseyside accent laced with a mix of amusement and triumph. “So, my idea is use the spikes and they won’t touch the oche and they will last a lot longer. And if someone upsets me, they will get one of them in the back!”
What started as a simple solution to scuffed soles blossomed into an unlikely talisman. Bunting, now ranked fourth in the world, credited the unconventional kicks for unlocking a level of consistency he described as unprecedented. “I’m playing the best darts of my life,” he declared, eyes gleaming under the arena lights. “I feel consistently that I’m delivering even in spiky shoes.” In a sport where routines border on the ritualistic— from walk-on anthems to pre-throw deep breaths— Bunting’s spiked ensemble became the talk of the tournament, a quirky emblem of his unshakeable confidence. As he dispatched darts with surgical accuracy, the spikes glinted like badges of defiance, reminding everyone that sometimes, the path to glory involves a little prickly innovation.
Bunting’s journey through the Swiss Darts Trophy was a masterclass in controlled aggression, a testament to why he’s suddenly one of the most feared names on the circuit. Seeded strongly as the world No. 4, he wasted no time asserting dominance. In the last 16, he navigated a tense encounter with a qualifier, setting the tone with a blistering average that left little room for error. The quarter-finals brought a heavyweight clash against darts royalty: Raymond van Barneveld, the five-time world champion whose storied career has inspired a generation. At 40, Bunting faced down the 58-year-old Dutch icon with the poise of a man half his age, edging out a 6-4 victory in a match that crackled with mutual respect. Van Barneveld’s experience tested Bunting’s resolve, but “The Bullet” fired back with a clutch 180 in the deciding leg, silencing any doubts about his mettle.
The semi-finals ramped up the intensity as Bunting squared off against Gian van Veen, the young Dutch sensation who’s been turning heads with his explosive scoring. Van Veen pushed hard, trading legs in a see-saw battle that had the Basel crowd on their feet. Yet Bunting’s composure shone through; he broke his opponent’s throw at 5-4 and sealed the deal with a cool double 16, advancing to the final with an average hovering around 95. It was here, in the cauldron of the championship match, that Bunting truly unleashed. Woodhouse, a gritty performer from Essex, had clawed his way through the draw with a string of upsets, but he met his match in Bunting’s relentless rhythm. The final unfolded like a clinic: Bunting raced to a 4-1 lead, weathering a brief fightback before pulling away to an 8-3 triumph. His finishing was impeccable— seven of his eight checkouts converted— capping a weekend where his overall average topped 96.
This wasn’t just another win; it was a milestone in a year that’s seen Bunting transform from a solid contender into a bona fide force of nature. In 2025 alone, he’s amassed an extraordinary haul: two Players Championship titles, two European Tour crowns, and two World Series of Darts victories. Such a quadruple achievement in a single calendar year places him in rarified air— only three players in PDC history have managed it. Luke Littler, the teenage prodigy, pulled it off in 2024 with his trademark flair, while Michael van Gerwen dominated in 2016, 2017, and 2019 during his peak powers. For Bunting, joining that elite trio feels like poetic justice after years of grinding in the shadows. “I’m so happy with this win, it means a lot,” he reflected, trophy in hand. “I’m No4 in the world. It shows how consistent I’ve been. But you can’t take anything for granted in this game. These players are hungry. I need to keep on my toes, keep on the practice board, make sure I stay humble.”
Even in victory, Bunting’s graciousness shone brightest when speaking of his vanquished foe. Woodhouse, who entered the final on a high after a stellar run, earned plaudits for his resilience. “Luke’s had a fantastic week,” Bunting said warmly. “I’ve just told him there’s no better time to find your best form going into the ProTours. We all know how good he is. Watch out for this guy, there’s big things for him.” It’s this blend of killer instinct and camaraderie that endears Bunting to fans— a throwback to darts’ pub-rooted spirit amid its global spectacle.
As the Swiss Darts Trophy dust settles, all eyes turn to the penultimate European Tour event, the German Darts Championship, where Bunting will defend his momentum. With the World Championship looming on the horizon, his spiked shoes— now legendary— symbolize more than durability; they’re a metaphor for his reinvention. From the pressures of fatherhood and the grind of the pro circuit to this pinnacle of success, Bunting’s story is one of perseverance laced with humor. In a year defined by upsets and underdogs, “The Bullet” has loaded his chamber and fired straight to the top. Who knows what footwear he’ll dream up next? One thing’s certain: in the world of darts, expect the unexpected— especially when spikes are involved.
Leave a Reply