Stephen Bunting's Premier League Redemption: From Quitting Thoughts to Bulletproof Resolve
Stephen Bunting has revealed that his initial Premier League experience left him contemplating quitting professional darts altogether, admitting the psychological impact "affected my whole career" for years afterward. Now, a decade later, the world number seven finds himself in a completely different mindset as he prepares for his controversial second Premier League campaign.
Controversial Selection Sparks Debate
The darts community has been divided over Bunting's wildcard selection for the 2026 Premier League, with many fans believing other players like Nathan Aspinall and Danny Noppert were more deserving of the coveted spot. This criticism comes after Bunting's challenging 2025 campaign where he lost his first eight matches and finished at the bottom of the table.
Bunting isn't taking this criticism lightly, expressing genuine disappointment at the suggestion he didn't warrant selection. "I'm a bit disappointed that people thought it was between me and Nathan," said Bunting, who faces Michael van Gerwen in his opening quarter-final in Newcastle on Thursday.
Building a Case for Inclusion
The darts star has presented a compelling argument for his selection, pointing to his current world ranking and recent tournament successes:
- World number seven ranking
- Multiple tournament victories across Players Championship, European Tour and World Series events
- Approximately 10 finals appearances in the previous year
- Strong fanbase and popular walk-on presentation
"I believe I deserved to be in," Bunting asserted. "I'm going to show everyone that I deserve to be in there."
From Career Crisis to Renewed Determination
Bunting's first Premier League campaign in 2015 proved deeply disappointing, with just three wins from sixteen matches and eventual exclusion from the following year's tournament. The psychological impact was severe, with Bunting revealing he spent "two or three years after that down in the dumps and literally looking to pack it in."
This painful experience has been transformed into motivation for his current campaign. "The Premier League means everything to me and I want to play in that for the rest of my days while I'm a professional darts player," he declared, emphasizing his commitment to hard work and preparation.
Pressure Transformed into Opportunity
Despite the controversy surrounding his selection, Bunting insists he feels less pressure this time around. "I think the pressure is off," he stated, referencing his difficult 2025 performance. "I lost the first eight matches last year! That ain't going to happen this year, I can assure you of that."
The selection process itself created anxiety, with Bunting admitting he didn't receive confirmation until "the last 27 minutes" before the lineup announcement. His World Championship performance, where he fell to James Hurrell in the third round, added to the uncertainty, though Bunting acknowledged his opponent "played really well against me."
Looking Forward with Renewed Focus
Bunting has developed what he describes as "Bulletproof" mental resilience since those difficult early years, a quality reflected in his walk-on music choice. He's grateful to the Professional Darts Corporation for seeing his potential and giving him another opportunity.
The darts star has shifted his focus entirely to performance, declaring: "Now I don't care about any chat about whether I should or shouldn't be in, it's down to me to perform and work really hard to make sure everybody sees the best version of Stephen Bunting."
As he prepares for his Newcastle opener against van Gerwen, Bunting carries not just the expectations of his selection but the weight of personal redemption, determined to rewrite the narrative of his Premier League career and silence the doubters who questioned his place among darts' elite competitors.
