SMITH VOWS NO MORE BUNTING TIKTOKS!

ROSS SMITH admits he is sick of being a star in buddy Stephen Bunting’s social media hit TikToks.

The Devon thrower is sharing an apartment with his Liverpool fan rival as they currently prepare for the UK Open at Butlin’s Minehead tonight (Friday).

Both players are in the fourth round draw but ex-Euro champ Smith revealed he has told The Bullet no more daft videos which go viral. 

Recent Masters winner Bunting has featured in pink hair singing ‘My Girl Lollipop’, also crooning Cher as ‘The Muffin Man’ and as a Minion – some of the TikToks have had over 11 million views. 

Smith, who ironically lost to Bunting in the opening round of the Masters last month, said: “He’s a brilliant player, very good friend of mine. I’m sharing an apartment with him this weekend, funnily enough.

“Hopefully no more TikToks with him though. He gets me every time, it’s always a bit of a shock. 

“I don’t expect him to include me or film me and the next thing I know I’ve gone viral on social media in some silly cartoon on TikTok. 

“Honest to God I’m useless on social media, absolutely useless. It’s probably the most uncomfortable thing I could do is video myself. I’m not that sort of person!” 

Smith, 35, admits he is ready for success again despite a tough start to the season. 

He has shown great form over the past 18 months but has been unable to deliver a trophy since his shock European Championship win in late 2022. 

He said: “I don’t think the season has started off that well this year. I’ve just been a bit scrappy really. I haven’t hit the ground running like I would like to have. 

“I’m sure it will come good this weekend and I’ll knuckle down and keep working hard. 

“It’s been really frustrating to be fair. Since winning the Euros in 2022 I feel like I’ve been playing really well and really consistent. 

“Honestly it’s insane. I’m playing well enough to go into every major thinking I can win this. You do need a bit of luck along the way, I don’t care how good you are.

“There’s no point being down about it. You’ve just got to get on with the next one and hopefully my luck will change. 

“I’m feeling really good and I’m sure I’ll kick into wins fairly soon. 

“I just play who is in front of me. I’m not ever bothered about who I’m playing. All I concentrate on is myself. 

“I’m going to the UK Open thinking I can win it, without a shadow of a doubt. 

“It’s just whether my brain kicks in when I get on stage. It’s very much the mental side of the game. It’s just getting over the finish line sometimes. If it clicks it clicks.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.