Stephen Bunting has fired a stern warning to Luke Littler claiming that no one at the PDC World Darts Championship fears him. Last year, Littler made history as the youngest player ever to lift the Sid Waddell trophy at Alexandra Palace. He trounced Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final, with his relentless performance epitomising his rise to world No. 1.
In the semi-finals, Littler defeated Bunting 6-1, securing his spot in the final for the second consecutive year. However, Bunting has previously triumphed over ‘The Nuke’, notching up wins in four of their 11 encounters. Should they face off on the oche again, the world No. 4 won’t be trembling in fear.
In an interview with WhichBookie, Bunting stated: “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 him for a long time, but there have been a lot of great darts players on the circuit in my career.
“We’ve had the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries and others that came before him, and I’ve beaten every one of them over the course of my career. If I make it to the semi-finals this year, I won’t be too nervous about facing him.
“I’ve got the experience from last year of playing him which will help me. I played him in an exhibition only a few days ago and won 4-3 with an average of over 100. I know I’ve got the game to beat him. Don’t get me wrong, he is one of the best players on the planet at the minute, but he’s not unbeatable.”
Littler has experienced another phenomenal year. Beyond capturing the World Championship crown at the start of 2025, he’s also claimed victories at the World Matchplay Championship, the World Grand Prix, the UK Open, a second consecutive Grand Slam of darts title, and the Players Championship, whilst also finishing runner-up in the Premier League.
His remarkable haul of silverware and prize winnings enabled him to dislodge Luke Humphries from the World No. 1 spot. Littler defeated Darius Labanauskas 3-0 on the opening night of the PDC World Darts Championship, while Bunting squares up against Sebastian Bialecki on December 14.
The Merseyside ace is brimming with belief that he can leave Ally Pally clutching the Sid Waddell trophy. ‘The Bullet’ said: “My confidence heading into the World Championship is as high as it has ever been. As much as I’m a grounded and level-headed person, being the World No.4 does give you a bit of a swagger, and I have to pinch myself every time I say that!”.
“It shows how hard I’ve worked, but also that there’s still room for improvement. I’ve got three spots ahead of me that I’m aiming for. People talk about the rankings and people trying to chase me down for my spot, but I’ve got my sights set on the three ahead of me. A strong run at the Ally Pally would definitely help that.
“There are no easy games at the World Championship, but it’s nice to have avoided Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen in my quarter of the draw. That said, I’m trying not to look too far in front.
“It’s all about being ready for my first game against Sebastian Białecki. I have to make sure everything is right for that, because if I put one foot wrong then I won’t be talking about the next game, I’ll be talking about next year’s World Championship.”