In the electrifying crucible of Premier League Darts, where legends are forged and reputations tested, Stephen Bunting pulled off a stunning coup on April 3, 2025, at Berlin’s Uber Arena. The 39-year-old from St. Helens, known as “The Bullet,” turned the form book upside down, clinching his first nightly victory of the season on Night Nine after a campaign that had, until that moment, been a relentless string of defeats. His triumph was all the more dramatic given the early exit of teenage prodigy Luke Littler, the reigning world champion whose unexpected stumble set the stage for Bunting’s Cinderella story—a tale of perseverance, precision, and a roaring German crowd that became the soundtrack to an unforgettable night.
Bunting’s journey to the Berlin crown was a rollercoaster of redemption. For eight grueling weeks, he’d been the whipping boy of the Premier League, winless and teetering on the edge of despair. “Don’t get me wrong, there have been times through the Premier League where I’ve thought: ‘Could I finish on zero points?’” he confessed, his voice raw with the weight of those dark moments. Yet, beneath the losses burned a quiet resolve, fueled by countless hours of unseen practice and an unshakable belief that his moment would come. In Berlin, it did. Facing Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals, Bunting broke his duck with a gritty win, a victory that felt like shedding a leaden cloak. “After the first win, I was so relieved just to get off zero points,” he said, the relief palpable as he spoke post-match.
The momentum carried him forward like a tidal wave. In the semi-finals, he faced world No. 1 Luke Humphries, a player whose struggles this season had done little to dim his pedigree. Bunting, however, was unstoppable, dispatching Humphries 6-2 with a display of poise and power that left the Berlin crowd buzzing. That set the stage for a final showdown with Gerwyn Price, the Welsh firebrand who’d earned a bye into the semis after Michael van Gerwen’s shoulder injury forced a withdrawal. Price, a two-time nightly winner this season, loomed as a formidable obstacle, his own path paved with a 6-2 thrashing of Chris Dobey. What unfolded was a final that gripped the audience, a tense, seesaw battle where neither man could seize control early. “The first six legs all went against the darts,” one observer noted, capturing the chaotic ebb and flow before Bunting finally held throw with a nerveless 96 checkout.
Price struck back, breaking to lead 5-4 and standing two match darts from victory. But the German crowd’s jeers rattled him, and he faltered, missing both shots as he flashed a sarcastic thumbs-up in frustration. Bunting pounced, leveling the score and then unleashing a dazzling 107 checkout to seal a 6-5 triumph. “Tonight, oh my God, I’ve won an event and I’m so happy,” he beamed, the joy of a man who’d stared down doubt and emerged victorious lighting up his words. “I’ve put a lot of work in behind the scenes, I’ve tried every week 110 percent.”
Littler’s early exit was the spark that lit Bunting’s fuse. The 18-year-old, dubbed “The Nuke,” arrived in Berlin atop the Premier League table, riding a wave of four nightly wins and a reputation as darts’ unstoppable force. Fresh off a 6-1 demolition of Humphries in Newcastle, he seemed poised to make history as the first player to claim five nights in a single season. But Chris Dobey, with his Hollywood flair, had other plans. In a quarter-final upset, Dobey stunned Littler 6-2, exploiting an uncharacteristic collapse—Littler missed 11 of 13 doubles, a far cry from his usual laser precision. “It was an incredible performance from Hollywood,” one fan raved, while another mused, “Littler’s human after all.” Dobey’s victory—he hit six of 11 doubles with a 93 average—sent shockwaves through the arena, paving the way for Bunting’s improbable run.
For Bunting, this wasn’t just a win—it was a lifeline. Still anchored at the bottom of the standings despite the triumph, he now heads to Manchester for Night 10 with a spring in his step. Price, climbing to third, remains a contender, while Littler’s lead, though dented, holds firm. The Berlin night was a reminder of darts’ unpredictable magic: a veteran defying the odds, a prodigy humbled, and a crowd roaring them both on. As Bunting put it, “To get off the mark tonight and to win a night is such a special feeling.” For one glorious evening, “The Bullet” flew higher than anyone expected, and the darts world took notice.
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