Bunting recalls ‘crying like a baby’ after achieving lifetime darts dream

STEPHEN BUNTING revealed he was “crying like a baby” after finally achieving his lifetime dream of becoming world champion.

The world No9 lifted the BDO World Championship in 2014, beating Alan Norris 7-4 in the final.

Bunting, 41, was just 28 when he finally got his hands on the trophy and admits he was overwhelmed by emotion.

The Liverpudlian recalled the extraordinary scenes on stage at Lakeside.

He wrote in his book Bulletproof: “I’ve just watched it back. I’m sat here crying my eyes out.

“I’d just achieved my lifetime dream. I’d won the BDO World Championship at the Lakeside.

“I can still smell the fish and chips being served at the back of the venue.

“My opponent, Alan Norris, came in for a hug. It was a big hug and we were sweating all over each other.

“He slapped my back. We were genuine mates and he was in my ear, congratulating me. I was trying to get my bearings among the torrent of cheers and lights and applause.

“Alan ruffled my hair. I didn’t even smile.

“It was everything I’d ever wanted since I first threw a dart as a young boy. Not the sweaty hug from Alan. Winning the Lakeside.”

Bunting became aware that even his arrows had been scattered during the celebrations.

He added: “It was so loud up there. For some reason, one of my darts was laying on the floor. No idea how it got there. The other two were in the board. The first in single-11, the second perfectly nestled in double-16.

“I was ushered towards the front of the stage. I gave the crowd a double thumbs up, an applause and then I took one of the biggest inhales of breath I’ve ever taken.

“There were hundreds of smiling faces, everyone on their feet. I bent down, giving it the, ‘I’m not worthy’ bow. I still don’t know if I am. I’m just a bloke from Liverpool who likes to throw an arrow.

“I finally picked my third dart up from the floor. It was starting to sink in. I picked my other two darts out of the board, shook the referee’s hand (a young Huw Ware for all you dart referee fans) and tucked my darts into my top pocket.

“I’d put them in that pocket hundreds, thousands of times before, but never as World Champion.”

The former Masters champ says he could barely speak during the post-match ceremony as the occasion got the better of him.

He continued: “A minute later and I was at the side of the stage, about to be interviewed by the BBC. I was still sweating buckets as well as bawling my eyes out. I took my glasses off to dry my tears.

“Combine the tears with the sweat, which was literally dripping off me, I was a right mess. Alan gave me a wipe down with a towel.

“I put my glasses back on and tried to hold it together while Rob Walker, the MC, interviewed Alan. All I could do was breathe deeply and take it all in.

“I smiled along, trying to compose myself. Rob turned to me.

“‘Stephen,’ he said. ‘The greats have stood on this stage and taken the trophy that you will lift very shortly. Your dream has come true. What a moment.’

“I managed to talk for about 20 seconds before I choked up again.

“I was thinking of my boy back home with his grandparents. He was just a baby at the time. ‘Toby, I love you,’ I said.

“And that’s it. I was crying again.

“Rob Walker, the bugger, brought up my dad who had been staying in a camper van all week. He wanted to be at every match. I squeezed out, ‘I love you too’ to my dad, and now I was really gone. Crying like a baby.

“‘The tears of a champion,’ said Rob as I hid in another massive hug from Alan. He rubbed my back, laughing at the madness of it all.”

Bunting eventually composed himself enough to complete the moment he had longed for since childhood.

He said: “A minute later, I had pulled myself together to hold the trophy in my hands, lifting it up to the crowd. The BDO World Champion, 2014.

“I’d achieved everything I had ever dreamed of. I was still in my twenties. I still felt like a kid. How could I ever top this?”

Copyright 2026, Stephen Bunting. Extracted from Bulletproof by Stephen Bunting, published by HarperNorth in hardback ebook and audiobook.

Pre-order BULLETPROOF below, on sale September 10. Go to: https://linktr.ee/BulletproofStephenBunting

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning