sportskeeda
STEPHEN BUNTING is envisioning an entire Liverpool trophy collection for the coming year and anticipates showcasing some silverware to the Mancunians next month.
The Bullet advances to the third round, set to compete against Latvia’s Madars Razma, with aspirations for an impressive journey at the PDC World Darts Championship.
2
2
Only four players—Dennis Priestley, Phil Taylor, John Part, and Raymond van Barneveld—have managed to clinch world titles in both PDC and BDO categories.
This is the hurdle that bespectacled Bunting currently faces, a decade after he was the reigning King of Lakeside.
If he emerges victorious over the next ten days, the passionate Liverpool supporter would be thrilled to showcase the tungsten trophy ahead of the Reds’ home match against arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday, January 5.
This excitement is amplified as Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders aspire to win multiple trophies this season.
Bunting, aged 39, remarked, “I would love to achieve that once more. I did when I won the Lakeside trophy, but back then, I didn’t have a massive following.
“I was strolling around the pitch unnoticed while everyone was chanting: ‘There’s only one Phil Taylor’.
“If I secure this title, everyone will recognize me — and maybe I’ll even get a few encouraging cheers. That’s a dream that keeps crossing my mind as the tournament progresses.
“Yes, that thought drives me, and I would truly love the chance to experience that.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“Just imagine walking with it against United—that would be a dream come true, wouldn’t it?
“Can you envision what a world champions’ trophy looks like? I can already imagine what the Manchester United supporters might shout at me!”
Freddie Flintoff commends his ‘finest sporting achievement’ after an incredible feat while hosting the revamped TV classic Bullseye
World Darts Championship – top stories
READ MORE about all the excitement leading up to the Ally Pally extravaganza…
All the info:
News, features, and interviews:
“And I doubt it would be: ‘There’s only one Phil Taylor…’”
Bunting, who has a large TikTok following, shares a close friendship with Liverpool’s Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who steps in whenever No 1 Alisson is unavailable.
The No 8 seed disclosed, “I recently sent him a set of darts and a shirt. He reached out to me about nine months ago.
“He asked for a video for his brother, a lower league player, who’s a huge fan, and they all wore Bunting shirts for a stag do.”
Bunting credits the revival of his career to utilizing hypnotherapy—he won the Masters last February, highlighting the positive effects of his altered mindset.
He feels a connection with fellow St Helens player and No 2 seed Michael Smith, who was the highest seed to be eliminated from Ally Pally.
Smith, the PDC world champion from two years prior, faced an unexpected exit at the hands of Kevin Doets in the second round and now has a tough path to revive his career.
Bunting shared, “I probably won’t visit him but I’ll send him a message. He knows his capabilities well.
“He likely left right after the match. Losing on that platform is incredibly challenging. With Christmas coming up, he has a young family to think about as well.
“After all the hard work it takes to reach the worlds, it can all end in seconds, making it difficult to return home and stay positive during the holidays.
“I sincerely empathize with his disappointment and I’m grateful it’s not me having a tough Christmas.
“I truly feel for him. My hypnotherapist did reach out to him, but I’m not aware of what happened there. I’m very pleased with my hypnotist; he’s had a remarkable impact on me.
“There are various methods to consider. For instance, one’s diet affects energy levels during play.
“Each player has a unique approach, so I wouldn’t presume to dictate, ‘this is your way,’ but I do believe in learning from the successful.”
List of all-time Darts World Champions
BELOW is the list of Darts world champions by year.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, appears only once – he has also won four BDO titles, and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO trophies are included.
- 1994 – Dennis Priestley
- 1995 – Phil Taylor
- 1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
- 1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
- 1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
- 1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
- 2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
- 2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
- 2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
- 2003 – John Part
- 2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
- 2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
- 2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
- 2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
- 2008 – John Part (2)
- 2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
- 2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
- 2011 – Adrian Lewis
- 2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
- 2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
- 2014 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2015 – Gary Anderson
- 2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
- 2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
- 2018 – Rob Cross
- 2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
- 2020 – Peter Wright
- 2021 – Gerwyn Price
- 2022 – Peter Wright (2)
- 2023 – Michael Smith
- 2024 – Luke Humphries
Most World Titles
- 14 – Phil Taylor
- 3 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
- 1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries
