Brilliant Bunting wins Bahrain Darts Masters title
Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Series of Darts title with a brilliant 8-4 victory over Ger...
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Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Series of Darts title with a brilliant 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in Friday's Bahrain Darts Masters final.
The 39-year-old, who secured his first televised PDC title just under a year ago with success in the Masters, once again made a perfect start to the new darting season.
Bunting – competing in Bahrain for the first time – produced some electrifying displays in the Middle East, defeating Nitin Kumar, Chris Dobey, Luke Humphries and Price on his way to glory.
The World Championship semi-finalist set a new tournament record average in his quarter-final victory over Dobey, averaging 111.33 to sweep aside his fellow debutant in six straight legs.
That record was very short lived however, as just 23 minutes and four seconds later, Price averaged a staggering 115.31 to defeat reigning champion and newly-crowned World Champion Luke Littler 6-2.
Bunting was unperturbed by Price’s heroics, and he completed a remarkable comeback in the semi-finals, as he came from 6-4 down to defeat world number one Humphries in a gripping last-leg shoot-out.
The former Lakeside Champion later capped off a stunning campaign with a convincing win over Price in just his second World Series final - over a decade since his first in Sydney back in 2014.
“What a lovely trophy this is,” exclaimed Bunting, who rose to a career-high of world number five following his run to last four at Alexandra Palace earlier this month.
“Coming off the back of making the semi-finals at the World Championship, I came here full of confidence.
“I am playing the best I have ever played. I’m more consistent than ever before and now I’m believing I can win titles.
“The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology in the past, it’s taken a lot of hard work."
Bunting was roared home by a sell-out crowd of over 1,500 fans at the Bahrain International Circuit, as he joined Michael Smith and Littler on the roll of honour to lift the iconic date palm trophy.
“I can’t produce my best darts without these wonderful crowds,” added the reigning Masters champion.
“Wherever we play – whether it be Bahrain, Germany, the Netherlands or back home in the UK, the fanbase that I’m building at the moment is crazy.
“From feeling down in the dumps to becoming the world number five is an incredible feeling, and hopefully the only way is up!”
Bunting was imperious on Finals Day, reaffirming his credentials as one of the sport’s most in-form stars with a series of high-quality displays.
Following his demolition of Dobey, he reeled off three straight legs to stun Humphries in the last four, surviving a match dart at tops in leg 11, before completing the comeback with a nerveless 12-dart hold in the decider.
The Liverpudlian seized the early initiative in Friday’s final, punishing missed doubles from Price to lead 3-1, before extending his cushion with a clinical 85 outshot on the bull in leg five.
Price responded in kind, landing an identical finish on the bull to break straight back, before unleashing a huge roar after landing double ten to reduce the deficit to 4-3 at the interval.
Nevertheless, an impregnable Bunting replied with legs of 11 and 12 darts to lead 6-3, and he thwarted any threat of a late fightback in leg 12 to clinch his second PDC televised title.
“Stephen has been playing fantastic darts in the last 12 to 18 months,” reflected a gracious Price, also the runner-up to Michael Smith back in 2022.
“I missed a couple of opportunities and Stephen took out some big checkouts which obviously put me under pressure.
“I was always chasing the game, but the Premier League is just around the corner, so I think I’ll get him back!”
Price enjoyed a return to form in his run to the World Championship quarter-finals on January 1, and he was pleased to build on his Alexandra Palace exploits in Bahrain.
“I know my game is going in the right direction. I am getting back to my best,” declared the 2021 World Champion.
“I am practising well, but sometimes you get up on stage and it doesn’t happen, and that was the case in the final.
“People can write us off, but I always come back fighting stronger than ever.
“It’s nice to make another final, but I wanted that trophy. I’ve lost in the semi-finals, I’ve lost in the final twice, but I will get it next time!"
Price – who eased past Lok Yin Lee in Thursday’s opening round – missed double 12 for a nine-darter in his extraordinary win over Littler, which saw him land seven 180s in eight legs.
The Markham star also fended off a valiant fightback from Peter Wright to close out a 7-4 victory in the semi-finals, after the Scottish veteran had accounted for Paolo Nebrida in the last eight.
In the evening’s other quarter-final tie, Humphries converted a brilliant 123 finish to edge out Nathan Aspinall in a deciding-leg contest, following up an earlier 160 checkout to triumph in a thriller.
Following the PDC's successful third trip to Bahrain, the World Series of Darts now heads to the Netherlands for the TOTO Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch on January 24-25, as Michael van Gerwen bids to retain the title on home soil.
Daniel
| Admin
20.01.2025 08:42
