Stephen Bunting facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stephen Bunting |
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![]() Bunting at the 2025 Premier League Darts in Berlin
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | "The Bullet” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Liverpool, England |
9 April 1985 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home town | St Helens, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darts information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing darts since | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darts | 18g Target Signature Gen 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laterality | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Walk-on music | "Titanium" by David Guetta featuring Sia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Organisation (see split in darts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BDO | 2002–2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PDC | 2014– (Tour Card: 2014–) |
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Current world ranking | 18 ![]() |
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BDO majors – best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Ch'ship | Winner (1): 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Winner (2): 2012, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Darts Trophy | Last 32: 2003, 2004, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finder Masters | Winner (1): 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PDC premier events – best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Ch'ship | Semi Final: 2021, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Matchplay | Quarter Final: 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Grand Prix | Semi Final: 2014, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam | Semi Final: 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Premier League | 8th: 2015, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Ch'ship | Quarter Final: 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Open | Semi Final: 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Players Ch'ship Finals | Quarter Final: 2018, 2019, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Masters | Winner (1): 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Series Finals | Quarter Final: 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other tournament wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Tour Events
Players Championships (x3)
World Series of Darts (x2)
UK Open Qualifiers
Youth Events
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Stephen Bunting (born on April 9, 1985) is an English professional darts player. He is known by his nickname "the Bullet". Stephen plays in events organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He is currently ranked among the top players in the world.
Before joining the PDC, Stephen competed in events held by the British Darts Organisation (BDO). He won the 2014 BDO World Darts Championship in 2014. He also won the World Masters twice, in 2012 and 2013. Another big win for him was the 2012 Zuiderduin Masters in 2012.
Stephen joined the PDC in 2014. Since then, he has won several titles. His first major PDC title was the Masters in 2024. He also reached the semi-finals of the PDC World Championship in 2021 and 2025. In 2025, Stephen won his first two World Series of Darts titles. These were the Bahrain Darts Masters and the Nordic Darts Masters. He also won his first PDC European Tour title at the International Darts Open.
Contents
Stephen Bunting's Darts Journey
Starting Out in Darts
Stephen Bunting showed great talent in darts from a young age. In 2001, he won both the British Teenage Open and the World Youth Masters. He also won the WDF Europe Youth Cup in 2002.
He made his first appearance at the BDO World Darts Championship in 2004. He was only 18 years old. He won his first match but lost in the second round. He returned in 2005 but was defeated early.
In 2008, Stephen won the Northern Ireland Open. This was his first major BDO title. He continued to play well in BDO events. He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship in 2011.
Becoming a World Champion
In 2012, Stephen won his biggest title yet, the Winmau World Masters. He was the top player in the tournament. Later that year, he also won the Zuiderduin Masters. By the end of 2012, he was ranked number one in the BDO and WDF.
In 2013, he won several other tournaments. He successfully defended his World Masters title in 2013. He was one of only a few players to win it twice in a row. He won without losing a single set, which was a historic achievement.
The biggest moment came at the 2014 BDO World Darts Championship. Stephen entered as the top seed. He played incredibly well throughout the tournament. He won the final match 7-4, becoming the BDO World Champion.
Moving to the PDC
After winning the BDO World Championship, Stephen decided to join the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in 2014. This was a big step in his career. He quickly showed his skills in the PDC. He reached the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix in his first year. He also made it to the final of the Sydney Darts Masters.
In 2015, Stephen made his debut at the 2015 PDC World Darts Championship. He played very well and reached the quarter-finals. He was very emotional after a close loss, showing how much the game means to him. He also competed in the 2015 Premier League Darts.
Recent Successes
Stephen continued to compete in major PDC events. In 2016, he won his first PDC title at a Players Championship event. He reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in 2021. He also made it to the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix that year.
In 2023, Stephen reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship. He also made it to the semi-finals of the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts.
The year 2024 was a big one for Stephen. He won his first major PDC title at the Masters. He beat top players like Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen to win the trophy. He also had a very high average in a European Tour match, showing his top form.
In 2025, Stephen reached the semi-finals of the World Championship again. He was then selected to play in the 2025 Premier League Darts. He won his first World Series of Darts title at the 2025 Bahrain Darts Masters. A week later, he won his first PDC European Tour title at the 2025 International Darts Open. He also won his second World Series title at the 2025 Nordic Darts Masters.
Stephen Bunting's Personal Life
Stephen Bunting used the song "Surfin' Bird" as his entrance music. This was a funny reference to how some people think he looks like Peter Griffin from the TV show Family Guy.
He is a big fan of Liverpool Football Club and St Helens R.F.C. rugby team. Stephen is married to Keila and they have two sons, Tobias (born 2012) and Theo (born 2024).
Stephen is very popular on social media, especially TikTok. His fans often chant "Let's go Bunting Mental" during his matches.
World Championship Results
BDO World Championship
- 2004: Second round
- 2005: First round
- 2009: First round
- 2010: Second round
- 2011: Quarter-finals
- 2013: Second round
- 2014: Winner
PDC World Championship
- 2015: Quarter-finals
- 2016: Second round
- 2017: First round
- 2018: First round
- 2019: Second round
- 2020: Fourth round
- 2021: Semi-finals
- 2022: Second round
- 2023: Quarter-finals
- 2024: Fourth round
- 2025: Semi-finals
Stephen Bunting's Career Finals
Stephen Bunting has had a very successful career in darts, reaching many finals.
BDO Major Finals: 5 (4 titles)
He won 4 out of 5 major BDO finals he played in.
- He won the World Masters twice (2012, 2013).
- He won the Zuiderduin Masters once (2012) and was runner-up once (2013).
- He won the World Championship once (2014).
WDF Major Finals: 1
- He was runner-up in the World Cup Singles in 2013.
PDC Major Finals: 1 (1 title)
- He won the Masters in 2024.
PDC World Series Finals: 5 (2 titles)
- He was runner-up in the Sydney Darts Masters in 2014.
- He won the Bahrain Darts Masters in 2025.
- He was runner-up in the Dutch Darts Masters in 2025.
- He won the Nordic Darts Masters in 2025.
- He was runner-up in the Poland Darts Masters in 2025.