What Stephen Bunting Did With His £15K Prize Money Will Make You Hungry

By Lewis Barnett 27 August, 2025 4 mins read 258 Views

So Stephen Bunting just pocketed £15,000 from his Players Championship 25 victory Tuesday night, and honestly? His first purchase had me cracking up.

The guy absolutely demolished Johnny Clayton 8-6 in the final - and I mean demolished. Six 180 checkouts and a 101.74 three-dart average that would make your head spin. This was Bunting at his absolute peak, the kind of performance that reminds you why he's been climbing the rankings like a man possessed.

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Monday's Heartbreak Made This Even Sweeter

Here's the thing that gets me about this win. Just 24 hours earlier, Bunting got his heart ripped out by Jeffrey de Graaf in the PC 24 final. I watched that match and you could see it in his eyes - the frustration, teh disappointment. Poor guy looked like he wanted to throw his darts through the wall.

But champions bounce back. And bounce back he did.

The Man's Got His Priorities Straight

Now here's where it gets good. After banking fifteen grand - enough to buy a decent used car or put a serious dent in your mortgage - what does Bunting do? Orders an Indian takeaway.

I'm not even kidding.

"One million percent. I know how well I am playing," Bunting said afterwards, still buzzing from the win. "Long may that continue. I will keep working hard."

The confidence was radiating off him like heat from a tandoor oven (see what I did there?). This wasn't just relief talking - this was a player who knows he's hitting form at exactly the right time.

Why This Victory Matters More Than You Think

Listen, anyone can have a good night at the oche. But back-to-back finals? That's different. That's a statement.

"I have played exceptionally this week and was disappointed not to win yesterday," Bunting admitted. "To do two finals and to get one over the line, I am really happy with that."

The honesty there kills me. No false modesty, no downplaying the Monday loss. Just raw acknowledgment that he's been playing lights-out darts and finally got the result to match.

This is his sixth PDC ranking title, by the way. Sixth! And the way he's talking, it won't be his last this year.

The Grind Never Stops (Even With Curry on the Way)

"The standard is so high and if I don't keep practising I will get left behind," Bunting said, and there's the mindset that separates the good from the great.

Even with £15K burning a hole in his pocket and a victory celebration planned around some seriously good Indian food, he's already thinking about tomorrow's practice session.

That's championship mentality right there. Celebrate tonight, get back to work tomorrow.

And honestly? After watching him dismantle Clayton with that kind of precision, I'm starting to think Bunting's curry celebration might be the first of many this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

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.

How do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

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.

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.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Statistics

Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.

External Links

How To

Setting Up Your Practice Space

The official height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches from the floor to the bullseye. The throwing line (oche) should be 7 feet 9¼ inches from the face of the board. I used to have mine hung too low and wondered why my game never improved at the pub! Measuring tape is your friend here.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/darts/kid-breaks-the-most-bizarre-curse-in-snooker-history