Stephen Bunting handed odd prize after ending ten-year winless run to triumph in Premier League Darts Berlin
STEPHEN BUNTING celebrated his Premier League Darts victory with a surprise gift to go alongside his trophy and cheque for £10,000.
The Bullet came into night nine in Berlin without a win after crashing out in the first round at every event this year.
But Bunting produced three sensational performances, beating Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price to clinch glory last night.
The 39-year-old was presented with a trophy on stage and he also bizarrely got handed a figurine of a bear.
Eagle-eyed fans were left baffled by the odd prize but there is a German tradition behind the gift.
The bear represents the symbol of Berlin and a specially painted version of it is often given to singers and sportspeople that take to the Uber Arena stage.
Bunting’s victory stopped him equalling a horror Peter Wright record of 13 games without a win in the Premier League.
The Liverpudlian’s nightmare dated back to 2015 when he was last in the tournament.
And Bunting was thrilled to end his ten-year drought, saying: “No, it’s still not sunk in, it has been a bit of a whirlwind. The aim was to try and win one game, to be honest.
“After the first eight weeks I feel like I’ve played really well throughout the tournament and it’s been a lonely place, but I’ve done it.
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“I can’t believe it and I’m over the moon to win a Premier League night, it is a special achievement, especially here in Berlin.
“The crowd was fantastic tonight and I’m glad that I could give the German fans something back.
“I’ve not played in the Premier League for ten years, this my debut here in Berlin, it’s a dream debut, looking around the place it’s such a special venue and I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.
“I’ve won a massive trophy, I’ve got a bear, I’m just so glad to be back in the Premier League.
“I’ve worked really hard over the last few years to push my rankings up to warrant my place in the Premier League. I really do believe I deserve to be here.
“There’s a lot of negatives that happen on social media when you don’t win games but this is one back to them.
“I know I’m good enough to be here. I’m number five in the world, soon to be number four, this is hopefully just the start of things to come.”
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
Bunting posted a picture of him sleeping with the trophy on Friday morning alongside an emotional message.
He said: “OMG. WOW. What can I say. This trophy has to be one of the best I’ve been in bed with.
“From the sheer turmoil of not winning a game in the first 8 weeks of the Premier League, to then winning 3 on the night and claiming night 9 in Berlin. What an amazing feeling. I’m so proud I showed grit and determination and I never once gave in. It’s always a great feeling when you bounce back off the canvas and the sweet taste this has left gives me massive confidence pushing forward.
“I’d like to thank my family (Keila, Toby & Theo) who have been inspiring me to keep believing even when things go wrong.
“Massive thanks to my manager who’s always there through thick and thin and we are a great team together.
“Massive thanks to my sponsors who put their faith in me to be the best I can be and I’m proud for your support guys.
“And last but by no means least… a huge huge thanks to the fans, I know supporting me can sometimes be difficult and rest assured that whenever I go up on the stage or to the oche I always give 110%. This victory isn’t just for me guys, you all share this with me and I can’t thank you all enough. You really are an inspiration every time I step on the stages. The let’s go bunting mental chant is so loud now and the walk on… what can I say… it leaves me so emotional that you guys sing it back in such a way it warms my heart.”