Stephen Bunting: From Trolling Torment to Darts Triumph

Stephen Bunting has recently found himself at the centre of controversy after being subjected to vile online abuse following his World Grand Prix exit in Leicester. The 40-year-old darts professional known as “the Bullet” was knocked out of the tournament by Danny Noppert in a 3-1 second-round defeat on 8th October 2025. What followed was a disturbing wave of trolling that highlighted the darker side of sports fandom in the digital age.​

The St Helens-born player took to social media to condemn the abusive messages he received, sharing screenshots of horrific comments that included death threats and personal attacks. Messages such as “Just die” and “Break both legs and never play again” were among the disturbing content sent to the world number four. Bunting posted on social media stating: “Losing doesn’t deserve this. Very sad to see”. The incident has reignited discussions about online abuse in professional sports and the mental health toll on athletes who face such torment.​

Playing Through Pain

What makes the abuse particularly troubling is that Bunting revealed he was competing with significant injury issues during his World Grand Prix match against Noppert. The English professional disclosed that back problems had affected his performance throughout the tournament, making his treatment at the hands of online trolls even more distasteful. Despite the physical setbacks, Bunting managed to produce moments of brilliance during the match, including a sensational 125 checkout that showcased his enduring talent.​

Before the tournament, Bunting had admitted preparations were far from ideal. He stated there had been “a lot going on at home” which impacted his readiness for the prestigious event in Leicester. The combination of personal matters, injury concerns, and below-par preparation created a perfect storm that ultimately contributed to his early exit from the World Grand Prix.

Stellar Season Despite Recent Setback

The World Grand Prix disappointment stands in stark contrast to what has otherwise been a magnificent 2025 season for Stephen Bunting. The former BDO World Champion has established himself firmly among the elite of professional darts with a string of impressive victories throughout the year. Bunting currently sits at world number four in the PDC rankings with career earnings exceeding £647,000 in the Order of Merit.

His year began spectacularly with victory at the Bahrain Darts Masters in January, where he defeated Gerwyn Price 8-4 to claim his first World Series title. The win at the Bahrain International Circuit represented a breakthrough moment for Bunting on the global stage. He followed this triumph with another World Series success at the Nordic Darts Masters, once again beating Rob Cross 8-4 in the final. These victories helped Bunting top the 2025 World Series Order of Merit, cementing his status as one of the finest performers on the international circuit.​

European Tour Excellence

Bunting’s excellence extended to the European Tour where he captured two titles in 2025. In April, he won the International Darts Open, defeating Nathan Aspinall 8-4 in the final after edging world number one Luke Humphries 7-6 in a thrilling last-leg decider during the semi-finals. The Liverpool native demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure throughout that tournament run.

September brought further European Tour glory when Bunting claimed the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel. He produced an exemplary display against fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse, winning 8-3 in the final whilst averaging an impressive 104. Bunting dropped just five legs during Finals day in Switzerland, defeating Krzysztof Ratajski and Raymond van Barneveld before surviving a match dart against Gian van Veen in a dramatic semi-final encounter.

Premier League Campaign

Bunting’s inclusion in the 2025 Premier League Darts marked his first appearance in the main lineup since 2015. Although he finished bottom of the table with 12 points after the league stage concluded in May, the tournament provided memorable moments for the Merseyside professional. After losing his first eight matches, Bunting dramatically turned his form around on night nine in Berlin on 3rd April. He secured his first two wins before defeating Gerwyn Price 6-5 in the final to claim his maiden Premier League nightly victory.

The Berlin triumph was particularly sweet for Bunting who had struggled throughout the opening weeks of the competition. He reached another nightly final on night eleven but suffered a 6-2 defeat to Chris Dobey. Despite the challenging overall campaign, these performances demonstrated Bunting’s ability to compete with the very best players when his game clicks into gear.

Players Championship Success

The Players Championship circuit has provided Bunting with consistent opportunities to showcase his talent in 2025. After losing six finals across the format in 2024 without winning a title, he finally broke through in August 2025. Bunting defeated Jermaine Wattimena 8-5 to claim Players Championship 18, marking his first Players Championship victory since 2021.

He backed up this success immediately by reaching consecutive finals at Players Championship 24 and 25. Although he lost to Jeffrey de Graaf at PC24, Bunting bounced back impressively the following day to defeat Jonny Clayton 8-6 in the PC25 final. The victory came with an exceptional three-dart average of 101.74 as Bunting produced six maximum 180 checkouts during the contest. When asked if he was playing the best darts of his life, Bunting replied: “One million per cent. I know how well I am playing. Long may that continue. I will keep working hard”.​

World Championship Semi-Final Run

The 2025 PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace witnessed one of Bunting’s finest performances on the biggest stage. Seeded eighth, he defeated Kai Gotthardt and Madars Razma in the early rounds before producing a dominant 4-0 victory over Luke Woodhouse to reach the quarter-finals. His quarter-final clash with Peter Wright saw Bunting prevail 5-2 to book his place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2021.

The semi-final brought a meeting with eventual champion Luke Littler, who was enjoying a phenomenal tournament. Despite Bunting’s best efforts, he fell to a 6-1 defeat as the young sensation marched towards his first World Championship title. Nevertheless, the semi-final appearance represented another significant milestone in what has been a career-best period for the St Helens professional.

Financial Rewards and Lifestyle

Bunting’s success on the oche has translated into substantial financial rewards. His 2025 earnings alone have exceeded £220,500 from ranking events, contributing to an Order of Merit total of approximately £656,000. Career prize money now stands at over £2.36 million, with his estimated net worth reaching around £1.8 million when factoring in sponsorship deals and appearance fees.

Despite banking considerable sums, Bunting has remained refreshingly grounded in his lifestyle choices. In an interview with Spin Bet earlier in 2025, he revealed that one of his major purchases was a caravan at a Haven site in North Wales. Located just 90 minutes from his Cheshire home, the caravan provides Bunting and his family with a convenient getaway spot. He explained: “It’s a lovely getaway from the house and from playing darts to spend some time with my family. Haven sites are always great for the kids so there is plenty to do there”.

Family Life

Family remains central to Bunting’s life away from professional darts. He and his wife Keila welcomed their second child, a baby boy, in November 2024. Bunting had announced the pregnancy via social media in July 2024, posting: “ITS A BOY. Baby bullet due early November 2024”. The addition to his family has brought immense joy but also contributed to the busy home life that affected his World Grand Prix preparations in October 2025.

Bunting has previously spoken about the importance of maintaining work-life balance despite the demanding professional darts calendar. His purchase of the North Wales caravan reflects this priority, giving him the ability to spend quality time with Keila and their children away from the pressures of competition.

Mental Resilience and Professional Help

The online abuse following his World Grand Prix exit is not the first challenge Bunting has faced regarding his mental approach to the game. Earlier in his career, he sought help from a hypnotherapist after recognising that frustrations from poor performances were affecting his family life. This decision to seek professional support proved transformative, helping Bunting develop the mental resilience that has underpinned his recent success.

His willingness to address mental health challenges openly has made him something of a role model within the darts community. The way he handled the recent trolling incident, by calling out the abuse publicly rather than suffering in silence, demonstrates the strength of character he has developed. Bunting’s message that “losing doesn’t deserve this” resonated with fans and fellow professionals who rallied to support him.

Looking Ahead

With the World Grand Prix now behind him, Bunting will turn his attention to the remaining major tournaments of 2025. The Grand Slam of Darts scheduled for 8th-16th November at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton represents the next significant opportunity. This will be followed by the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals from 21st-23rd November in Minehead.

Bunting enters these events as one of the form players on the circuit despite his Leicester disappointment. His consistent performances throughout 2025 have established him as a genuine contender in every tournament he enters. The combination of European Tour titles, World Series triumphs, and Players Championship victories demonstrates the breadth of his talent across different formats and venues.

The Wider Issue of Online Abuse

The abuse directed at Stephen Bunting highlights a growing problem in professional sports. Athletes across all disciplines increasingly find themselves targeted by online trolls, often motivated by gambling losses or simply malicious intent. The anonymity provided by social media platforms emboldens individuals to send messages they would never deliver face-to-face.

Bunting’s decision to share screenshots of the abuse he received has sparked important conversations about player welfare and platform accountability. Many within the darts community, including fellow professionals and the PDC organisation, have expressed support for stricter measures against online harassment. The incident serves as a reminder that behind every professional athlete is a human being deserving of respect regardless of their results.

Career Trajectory

From his BDO World Championship victory in 2014 to his current status as world number four, Stephen Bunting’s career trajectory exemplifies dedication and continuous improvement. His transition from the BDO to the PDC circuit in 2014 marked a turning point, though success was not immediate. Years of grinding through ranking events eventually yielded his breakthrough 2024 Masters title, where he defeated Michael van Gerwen 11-7 in the final.

That Masters victory opened the floodgates for Bunting. The confidence gained from winning his first PDC major title has translated into consistent performances at the highest level throughout 2024 and 2025. His average of 117.12 in a European Darts Open match against Owen Bates stands as the fourth highest three-dart average ever recorded on the European Tour. Such statistics demonstrate that when Bunting is at his best, few players can match his scoring power.

Fan Support and Community Response

The response from the darts community to Bunting’s abuse has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans, fellow professionals, and commentators have condemned the trolling whilst offering messages of support to the Liverpool native. This solidarity demonstrates the strong sense of community within professional darts, where players are generally supportive of one another despite fierce on-stage rivalries.

Bunting has cultivated a loyal fanbase throughout his career, partly due to his approachable personality and willingness to engage with supporters. His nickname “the Bullet” has become synonymous with entertaining, attacking darts. Videos of his walk-ons and celebrations regularly go viral on social media, with one memorable incident seeing him sign a fan’s head during his entrance at the Premier League in Leeds.

Technical Excellence

What sets Bunting apart from many competitors is his technical consistency. His scoring power, particularly when it comes to maximums and high checkouts, makes him a dangerous opponent in any format. The 125 checkout he produced during his World Grand Prix match against Noppert, despite carrying an injury, exemplified his class.

Throughout 2025, Bunting has demonstrated the ability to maintain high averages across multiple formats. Whether competing in the set-play format of major tournaments or the leg-play format of ranking events, his technical game remains remarkably consistent. This versatility has been crucial to his success across different tournament structures throughout the season.

Sponsorship and Commercial Success

Bunting’s commercial appeal has grown significantly alongside his on-stage success. His partnership with Target Darts provides him with equipment and financial support, whilst his rising profile has attracted additional sponsorship opportunities. The combination of prize money and commercial deals has enabled him to achieve financial security whilst pursuing his passion for professional darts.

His social media presence, particularly on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, allows him to maintain direct contact with fans and promote his sponsors. Despite the recent trolling incident, Bunting continues to engage with supporters online, recognising the importance of building his brand beyond tournament results. His openness about purchases like the family caravan humanises him and strengthens his connection with ordinary fans.

Legacy and Future Prospects

At 40 years old, Bunting is enjoying the most successful period of his professional career. His performances in 2025 suggest he is nowhere near finished competing at the highest level. Many darts players continue performing well into their 50s, meaning Bunting potentially has another decade of top-level competition ahead of him.

His stated ambition is to add more major titles to his collection. The 2024 Masters triumph remains his only PDC major, though his multiple World Series and European Tour victories demonstrate his capability across different tournament levels. A World Championship title remains the ultimate goal, and his semi-final run in early 2025 proved he possesses the game to challenge for the biggest prize in darts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Stephen Bunting at the World Grand Prix 2025?
Stephen Bunting was defeated 3-1 by Danny Noppert in the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on 8th October 2025. Following this loss, he revealed he had been playing through back injury issues and subsequently received vile online abuse from trolls, which he publicly condemned on social media.

What major titles has Stephen Bunting won in 2025?
In 2025, Stephen Bunting won the Bahrain Darts Masters and Nordic Darts Masters on the World Series circuit, captured two European Tour titles at the International Darts Open and Swiss Darts Trophy, and claimed Players Championship 18 and Players Championship 25 victories.

What is Stephen Bunting’s current world ranking?
Stephen Bunting is currently ranked world number four in the PDC Order of Merit with £656,000 in ranking prize money. He sits behind Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, and Michael van Gerwen in the official rankings as of October 2025.​

How much has Stephen Bunting earned in his career?
Stephen Bunting has earned over £2.36 million in career prize money from PDC tournaments. His estimated net worth is approximately £1.8 million when including sponsorship deals and appearance fees. In 2025 alone, he has earned more than £220,500 from ranking events.

Is Stephen Bunting married and does he have children?
Yes, Stephen Bunting is married to his wife Keila. The couple welcomed their second child, a baby boy, in November 2024. Bunting has spoken about the importance of family life and recently purchased a caravan in North Wales to spend quality time with his wife and children away from the pressures of professional darts.

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