Bunting’s campaign started strong, with dominant wins over Madars Razma and Luke Woodhouse. His 4-0 thrashing of Woodhouse was impressive, but let’s be honest—Woodhouse isn’t exactly a heavyweight in the darts world. Bunting’s quarterfinal victory over Peter Wright, however, turned heads. He stormed into a 4-0 lead, averaging nearly 106 and hitting a jaw-dropping 130 checkout on the bullseye. But even then, Wright’s late fightback exposed cracks in Bunting’s armor. Was it a masterclass, or did Wright simply have an off day?

Now, Bunting faces Luke Littler in the semifinals, and the pressure is on. Littler, the teenage sensation, has been a revelation this tournament, and Bunting’s call for more crowd support reeks of desperation. “Listen, in the first four sets you were unreal, but you have got to do better,” he said. Really, Stephen? Shouldn’t your darts do the talking?

Let’s not forget, Bunting has been here before—close, but not close enough. His semifinal exit in 2021 was a bitter pill to swallow, and this year feels eerily similar. Sure, he’s playing well, but is he truly ready to dethrone the likes of Michael van Gerwen or Luke Humphries? Or is this just another case of “close, but no cigar”?

Bunting’s fans will argue that this is his year, that he’s finally found the form to go all the way. But the skeptics will point to his history of falling short when it matters most. As he steps up to face Littler, one thing is clear: Bunting has the talent, but does he have the nerve?

The darts world is watching, Stephen. Time to prove you’re more than just a flash in the pan.