BUNTING INSISTS “NO MORE BABIES”!

By Phil Lanning

STEPHEN BUNTING has vowed “no more babies” even if he defends his Winmau World Masters title! 

The Bullet begins his bid to retain his crown against Cameron Menzies in Milton Keynes tomorrow night. 

A year ago Bunting took glory and his second son Theo was born nine months after his great night at the Marshall Arena. 

The former Lakeside champion has always refused to confirm or deny that his new baby was part of a big celebration. 

He laughed: “There is definitely not going to be any more babies! 

“This is the last one for sure. People put one and three together, didn’t they? And started making assumptions. 

“I can assure you after the win in the Masters last year, Keila had already gone home.” 

When asked if that’s the story he’s sticking to, he joked: “100 per cent!”

Bunting is bang on form after winning the Bahrain Masters and reaching the final of the Dutch Masters last week. 

He started to cry after taking victory in Bahrain – a growing trend in the sport after many players weeped on stage at the Ally Pally. 

He added: “It does mean so much to us, the amount of hours we put in. 

“People don’t see the preparation, the amount of hours we put in, the sacrifice of being away from our families a lot.

“For me, what hits me more than anything, when I start talking about the family. I know how much dedication it takes. And Bahrain was no different. 

“I was away from the family for a few days again. Just feeling like you are so far ahead. All you can see them on is FaceTime and stuff. It was difficult. 

“To win that tournament, they are not there, looking down at my son, cheering me on like he normal does, it stuck in my throat. It just welled me up.”

Bunting now wants to retain the revamped Masters and he feels no pressure. 

On last years big win, he added: “To have my family there as well and celebrate the win with them. It was a special moment. 

“The way I did it as well. Beating so many great players on the way to the final. I’d love to be able to defend it again, I’m really looking forward to it. 

“There is no pressure. I am going in as the defending champion but it’s not suddenly ranked where it wasn’t last time. I am not defending anything. Just a title. 

“I will go into it with the same  mindset as every tournament in the last 12 months, going in to win. I believe I have the game to do that. It’s a great format. It should be exciting.

“I’d love to bring home the trophy again. I have still got my Bahrain Trophy yet. I am looking forward to getting that. 

“I got the opportunity to bring that back but it’s too big they are shopping it over. That will look nice on the mantelpiece.

“I don’t know where it’s getting shipped from. They are shipping it. It could take a while. I am looking forward to receiving that.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.