Fan-favourite Stephen Bunting endured another miserable night at the Premier League in Cardiff and felt the need to apologise to fans after his defeat against Chris Dobey
Stephen Bunting has blamed nerves after extending his losing streak in the Premier League in Cardiff on Thursday night.
Bunting is the only player in the competition yet to pick up a single win this season after he lost to Chris Dobey in the quarter-final. He has now endured seven consecutive losing nights and sits bottom of the Premier League.
The Bullet qualified for the competition by reaching the semi-finals of the World Championships over the festive period, where he was beaten by eventual winner Luke Littler. But he has been well off his best and posted a measly average of just 87.05 in defeat to Dobey, who wasn’t much better with 90.27.
His struggles were plain to see, with Sky Sports commentator Rod Studd not pulling his punches while describing what he was witnessing. “This is like watching two blokes try to push custard uphill with a fork,” he said.
Later he added: “[Bunting] will be saying to himself, how many more mistakes am I going to make up here? It’s almost like a bingo card of blunders.”
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Bunting took to social media after tasting defeat again. He posted on X: “Absolutely gutted. So sorry to all who support me. Practiced so well tonight and unfortunately it just didn’t happen on the stage. I’ll keep giving it my all guys and keep believing.
“I’m making myself so nervous because I care and want to perform to my best instead of just relaxing and letting it happen. See you all next week. I’ll work hard and make sure I’ll improve. X.” The 39-year-old received plenty of positive replies from fans and will be desperate to break his losing streak when the Premier League moves to Newcastle on March 27.
Bunting is competing in the Premier League for the first time since 2015, when he finished in eighth place. His form was contrasted by Littler, who hit a nine-darter on the way to another win.
The Nuke went six points clear at the top of the table with a 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen. He averaged 112.50, hit 10 maximums and the nine-darter in the final win over Van Gerwen, in a repeat of the World Championship final in January.
“I’ve been playing very well – but I must admit I’ve not picked up a dart since last Thursday,” he said. “You have got to have rests every now and then, so I just took a week out to chill, but I’m enjoying my performances at the moment.”
Littler is six points ahead of world No.1 Luke Humphries at the top of the table, with Van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price in third and fourth. After scooping another £10,000 for winning in Cardiff, the 18-year-old is in pole position for the top prize of £275,000.
