God, I love this story.
Stephen Bunting just banked nearly £200,000 in 2025 - and what did he do with it? Bought a bloody caravan. Not a Ferrari, not a Rolex, not even one of those ridiculous hot tubs that cost more than most people's cars. A caravan at a Haven site in North Wales.
The man's 40 years old, he's been throwing tungsten for decades, and when he finally hits the jackpot, he thinks: "You know what? The kids need somewhere to run around, and I need somewhere to hide from the phone calls."
When Everything Finally Clicked
Let me tell you - Bunting's 2025 has been mental. The guy went from being "that solid player who might cause an upset" to genuinely dangerous. His run to the World Championship semis at Ally Pally had people texting me at 11 PM asking if I was watching this madness.
Then came the Bahrain Darts Masters. Beating Gerwyn Price for his first World Series title? That's the kind of moment that changes everything. Price probably went home and practiced his celebration dance in the mirror for three hours, wondering where it all went wrong.
Sure, he finished bottom of the Premier League table - but here's the thing about that tournament. It's brutal. You're playing the absolute elite week after week, traveling constantly, and one bad night can derail everything. But Bunting managed something special in Berlin on Night Nine, beating players like Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross who've been collecting trophies since he was still figuring out his throw.
The Numbers Don't Lie (But They're Pretty Humble)
£172k from ranking events. £10k from that Premier League win in Berlin. Nearly £200k total when you add it all up.
In darts terms, that's serious money. Not "buy a yacht" money, but definitely "sleep better at night" money.
Why a Caravan Makes Perfect Sense
Here's what I love about Bunting's choice - it's so refreshingly normal it almost hurts. The guy told Spin Bet he bought a caravan at a Haven site, just 90 minutes from his place in Cheshire. Not some luxury retreat in the Maldives, not a second home in Monaco. A caravan where his kids can run around and he can sit outside with a cup of tea, watching them play while his phone stays inside.
"Part of my money went on the garden and then we've also just bought a caravan," he said. Garden improvements and a family holiday spot. This is a man who understands what actually matters.
The Haven sites are brilliant for families - I've been to a few myself, and they're exactly what you'd expect. Pools, entertainment, kids running everywhere while parents try to read three pages of a book. It's chaos, but it's the good kind of chaos.
Sometimes the Best Luxury is Just... Quiet
Bunting gets it. "It's a lovely getaway from the house and from playing darts to spend some time with my family," he explained. "I can be in my own luxury caravan out of the way and loving life."
That phrase - "out of the way and loving life" - tells you everything about what success actually looks like. Not the Instagram version with champagne and sports cars, but the real version where you can disappear for a weekend with your family and nobody expects anything from you except maybe helping with the washing up.
Poor guy's probably spent years dreaming about moments like this.
The best part? It's only 90 minutes away. Close enough for spontaneous weekend trips, far enough to feel like you've actually escaped. Smart thinking from The Bullet - though I suspect his nickname might not fit quite as well when he's trying to reverse that caravan into a tight spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far should I stand from the dartboard?
The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.
I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?
This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.
My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?
Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.
What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?
Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.
What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?
The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.
What weight darts should beginners use?
For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.
Statistics
- The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
- A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
- The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
- The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
- Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
- The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
- The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
- Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
External Links
How To
Taking Your Game Public
Playing at home is one thing; throwing in a crowded, noisy bar is another beast entirely. My first league night was a disaster—I couldn't focus with people walking behind me and the pressure of teammates watching. Now I wear headphones with low music between throws and have a specific pre-throw routine to center myself.
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