In the neon-lit arena of Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, the darts flew fast and furious on a Thursday night that Stephen Bunting would rather forget. The Premier League Darts stage, a proving ground for the sport’s elite, turned into a merciless gauntlet for the 39-year-old from St. Helens as he faced off against the teenage prodigy Luke Littler. What unfolded was a brutal 6-0 whitewash, a ten-minute demolition that left Bunting reeling and the crowd roaring. For Littler, it was another feather in an already crowded cap—his fourth nightly win of the season—while for Bunting, it marked an eighth consecutive defeat, cementing his place at the bottom of the standings. Yet, amidst the sting of loss and a storm of online vitriol, Bunting’s response revealed a man unbroken, clinging to pride and resilience in the face of adversity.
The night began with Littler, the reigning world champion and Premier League titleholder, stepping onto the oche with the swagger of a seasoned veteran despite his tender 18 years. Bunting, ranked No. 4 in the world and a wildcard pick for this star-studded lineup, had every reason to believe he could turn his fortunes around. He’d started 2025 with a bang, clinching the Bahrain Masters and reaching the World Darts Championship semifinals, only to falter under the Premier League’s unrelenting spotlight. Against Littler, his darts found their mark with a 102.15 average—impressive by any measure—but it wasn’t enough. Littler’s 109.89 average, five 180s, and a surgical 50 percent checkout rate turned the match into a one-sided affair, a masterclass in precision that left Bunting grasping at air.
As the dust settled, the online darts community erupted. For every fan marveling at Littler’s dominance, others turned their sights on Bunting, hurling barbs and criticism at his winless streak. The Merseyside thrower, affectionately dubbed “The Bullet,” found himself under siege, his social media feeds flooded with negativity. But amid the barrage, a few voices of support pierced through, and it was to these that Bunting turned. “Chin up mate, ignore the haters, you know what you are capable of,” one supporter urged, reminding him of the league’s unforgiving nature and past struggles of legends like Peter Wright. Bunting’s reply was a window into his soul: “Thank you. Much appreciated. I stay away from the negative comments as I know they are there. I’m proud to be part of the Premier League. I’m proud of how far I’ve come since the times when I was thinking of quitting and to be on the verge of moving to No. 4 in the world is amazing. I’ll never give up, and I’ll always try 110 per cent to achieve my goals.”
That resilience is the heartbeat of Bunting’s story. A decade ago, he debuted in the Premier League after switching from the BDO, where he’d claimed a world title, to the PDC’s glitzy circuit. The transition wasn’t smooth—years of middling results and self-doubt pushed him to the brink of walking away. Yet, with the aid of a sports psychologist and hypnotherapist, he clawed his way back, transforming despair into determination. His 2025 resurgence—highlighted by that Bahrain triumph and a World Championship run halted only by Littler—earned him this second crack at the Premier League. “I’m good. Feel great and have a great family, team, management and sponsors behind me. And the fans are amazing,” he told another well-wisher, his words a shield against the storm.
Littler, meanwhile, marched on, dispatching Rob Cross 6-3 and crushing world No. 1 Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final to widen his lead atop the table to eight points. For Bunting, the road ahead is daunting—nine weeks remain, with a clash against Michael van Gerwen in Berlin next on the slate. His -28 leg difference and 20 legs won underscore the challenge, but his averages, often north of 100, hint at a talent still simmering beneath the surface. “Sometimes, the results just don’t go your way, no matter how you play,” a fan noted, and Bunting knows it’s a truth etched into the Premier League’s brutal tapestry. As he prepares to dust himself off and step back onto the oche, one thing is clear: Stephen Bunting’s fight is far from over, and in his defiance lies a story of grit that no scoreline can erase.
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