BUNTING UNDERSTANDS LITTLER’S GERMANY SNUB
17/03/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
STEPHEN BUNTING admits he “understands” Luke Littler’s Germany snub on the Euro Tour.
World No.9 Bunting was edged out 6-5 by Niko Springer in the second round of the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen on Saturday, in a match marred by loud whistling from sections of the crowd.
The noise became so disruptive that referee Huw Ware was forced to halt play and tell fans to “shut up” before the contest could resume.
Bunting conceded the experience showed him why teen sensation Littler has previously avoided events in the country.
He told talkSPORT: “It happens from time to time. It doesn’t happen all the time. It is a very small number of people that do it.
“The whistling when you are throwing for a double and travelling all that way to get there — I understand now why Luke Littler does not want to go over there.
“That is the first time I have ever experienced it that bad. Thankfully, the referee stepped in and was able to continue the game.”
Bunting also took a different view to Gerwyn Price, who recently suggested the PDC schedule is too demanding.
The St Helens thrower insisted players can manage their own workload by choosing which events to enter.
He added: “You are an elite sportsman, so you can pick and choose your tournaments — you don’t have to play in everything. It is your own preference.
“These players, sometimes they won’t do the tour, but they will do exhibitions, so they are always still playing.
“I don’t understand — obviously I get tired as well, it is a long tour, but it is a rewarding tour as well.
“The more you play, the more money you get paid. So it is beneficial to play in as much as you can.
“Then you are chasing the rankings as well to keep it as high as you can, which is important to me this year because I have dropped down slightly.
“So, I will be playing in everything, to be honest.”
Bunting returns to Premier League action on Thursday, where he is set to face Littler in Dublin.
‘The Bullet’ currently sits seventh in the table but remains firmly in the hunt, having won Night Four and sitting just two points outside the play-off places.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
