BRILLIANT BUNTING’S BERLIN WIN ENDS PREM DROUGHT
03/04/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Aaron Nijjar
STEPHEN BUNTING climbed back off the canvas to end his 12 game Premier League winless run and record his first nightly victory in Berlin.
‘The Bullet’ had not won a game for eight weeks – but on the ninth try, he was able to dispatch Nathan Aspinall 6-2 with a stellar 103 average in the quarter-finals.
Former Masters champion Bunting beat world number one Luke Humphries 6-2 in the semi-final.
The St Helens ace smashed in five 180s and averaged above 93 to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 in the final and sealed the victory with a stunning 107 checkout.
And it saw him earn five points, leaving him two away from seventh placed Chris Dobey.
World No. 5 Bunting remains eight points from a place in the top four but will take confidence from his remarkable turnaround.
He said: “Don’t get me wrong, there have been times through the Premier League where I’ve thought: ‘Could I finish on zero points?’
“But to get off the mark tonight and to win a night is such a special feeling.
“I felt so good in the practice room, I hit a nine-darter early on. I had a good run in Leicester the other day [in the Players Championship] which gave me a lot of confidence.
“This is going to give me huge confidence and I can’t wait to finish the campaign. I’ve really enjoyed it, even though I’ve not won a game until tonight.
“We all want to be in the Premier League, it’s the place to be and I want to be in it for many years to come.”
Elsewhere, World champion Luke Littler missed 11 darts at double in a 6-2 loss to Chris Dobey.
Seven-time Premier League winner Michael van Gerwen withdrew from the night due to a shoulder injury.
As a result Price got a bye into the semi-final and secured a 6-2 victory against Dobey.
Humphries defied a 99 average and a brilliant 110 checkout in the opening leg of the match from Rob Cross to win 6-3 in the last eight.
‘Cool Hand’ claimed five legs on the spin from 3-1 down in the match to triumph.
Teen sensation Littler remains top of the Premier League table with 26 points.
Big rival Humphries has cut Littler’s lead to six points.
Price is up to third on 15 points and is followed by MVG who trails him on 13 points.
