Stephen Bunting Says Nobody Fears Luke Littler

Former PDC Masters winner Stephen Bunting told WhichBookie he doesn’t believe players are intimidated by Luke Littler, and says he wouldn’t be nervous about running into him again at the World Darts Championship.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Bunting said: “I don’t think anyone is really scared of Luke Littler. He’s a great darts player and a fantastic kid who I’ve known for a long time, but there have been plenty of top players throughout my career. I’ve played the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and loads of others, and I’ve beaten every one of them at some point. If I make the semi-finals again this year, I won’t be worried about facing him.

“I’ve got the experience from last year which helps. I actually played him in an exhibition a few days ago and won 4-3 with an average over 100, so I know I have the game to beat him. He’s one of the best players on the planet right now, but he’s not unbeatable.”

Confidence high heading into the Worlds
Bunting says he feels better than ever going into the World Championship, although he’s trying to stay grounded and keep his focus on each match as it comes.

“My confidence heading into the Worlds is as high as it’s ever been,” he said. “I’m a level-headed person, but being World No.4 does give you a bit of swagger. I still have to pinch myself when I say it. It shows how hard I’ve worked, and that there’s still room to get better. I’ve got three players above me in the rankings and that’s who I’m chasing. A strong run at Ally Pally would help a lot.

“There are no easy games at the World Championship, but it’s nice to avoid Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen in my quarter. Even so, I’m not looking too far ahead. It’s all about my first match against Sebastian Białecki. If I get that wrong, then there won’t be a second match to think about. I’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes, practising hard and playing exhibitions, and I’m feeling really good going into the Championship.”

The crowd can turn the tide
Bunting says the Ally Pally crowd can have a huge influence, especially when the famous “Let’s go Bunting mental” chant gets going.

“The backing from the crowd is massive for me,” he explained. “Sometimes you turn up not feeling great, then the support starts and it lifts you. Hearing the chant gives me a real boost, and it gets into your opponent’s head as well.

“I’m lucky to have built a strong fanbase through social media. I think people can relate to me. I like putting stuff on YouTube where people can watch me play, pick up tips, and just see that I’m a normal guy who plays games and watches the football. When the crowd gets behind me during a match, they can change everything. If things aren’t going my way and I hear the chant, it picks me up and pushes my game to another level.”

Discover how to catch all the action by heading to our guide on where to watch the darts live.