Bahrain Darts Masters: Stephen Bunting beats Gerwyn Price to be crowned champion as Luke Littler exits in quarter-finals
Stephen Bunting has picked up his first ever World Series win at the Bahrain darts Masters; Reigning world champion Luke Littler was beaten 6-2 by Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals; watch Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports every Thursday from February 6
Saturday 18 January 2025 10:58, UK
Stephen Bunting has been crowned the Bahrain Darts Masters champion 2025 after an 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Price at the Bahrain International Circuit.
It is the first World Series win of Bunting's career and his first World Series event in 11 years, a further symbol of his rise in the darting circuit over the last 12 months.
Bunting beat Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey on his way to the final, two players he will battle weekly in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports from Thursday February 6.
- Phil Taylor: Littler must overcome 'Man Utd syndrome' to beat my record
- Bahrain Darts Masters day two - as it happened!
- Darts in 2025 - schedule and dates for PDC events
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW
"It is even more satisfying because what an absolutely lovely trophy this is," said Bunting, speaking on ITV.
"I can't produce my best darts without this wonderful crowd week in, week out. The fanbase we are building at the moment is crazy and thank you very much.
"I am lost for words. I am playing the best I have ever played, I am more consistent.
"Being world No 5 is an incredible feeling and it has made me very strong to be honest."
Fellow finalist Price started his evening by dumping reigning world champion Luke Littler out in the quarter-finals with a tournament record 115.3 average.
Littler was looking to defend his title in Bahrain, which was the first he picked up on the PDC professional circuit. It is also the tournament at which he hit a nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall in the 2024 quarter-finals, his first of four across the year.
However, he came up against a Price in some sensational form, the Welshman going eight darts into what would have been a sensational nine-darter before missing D12.
It means that the 17-year-old, who was on the end of a 6-2 scoreline against Price, will be made to wait for his second title of 2025.
Price then came through a semi-final against Peter Wright, racing into a 5-2 lead with a 142 checkout and some much superior scoring.
'Snakebite' came back to bring the score to 5-4 but his trouble on the doubles cost him, allowing Price to wrap up the game 7-4 on tops.
St Helens man Bunting showed sensational fight to book his spot in the final with a deciding leg 7-6 semi-final win over Humphries.
Bunting got off to a slow start but an 11-dart leg plus 121 checkout brought him back into it and the score to 4-3 in the world no 1's favour.
With a clutch break of throw then bringing the game level, Bunting showed his class with some high scoring and pinned 96 on D12 to send the former world champion out.
Bunting also put in a relentless performance as he dominated Chris Dobey 6-0 in a whitewash quarter-final.
A break of throw in the opening leg set the precedent and with two 12-darters, an 11-darter, plus an incredible 111.33 average, 'The Bullet' lived up to his nickname and raced through.
The other two quarter-finals saw Humphries beating Nathan Aspinall 6-5, while Wright battled past Paolo Nebrida.
Watch Premier League Darts 2025 live on Sky Sports every Thursday from February 6 or stream with NOW.
