Stephen Bunting showed why he would never let darting success go to his head with what he did after winning £100,000
Mark Whiley Sports Reporter
12:21, 27 Dec 2025
Stephen Bunting has stayed grounded despite his success on the oche(Image: PA)
Stephen Bunting showed why, in the view of many, he is the ‘people’s champion’ of darts by how he spent a £100,000 payday.
The Bullet, who plays James Hurrell in the third round of the World Championship on Saturday night, reached the last four 12 months ago. Luke Littler proved too good on that occasion, romping to a 6-1 win before hammering Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest world champion of all time.
However, Bunting could console himself with the six-figure fee he banked for making the semi-finals. In true Bullet fashion, he didn’t flash the cash on fancy cars or other luxury items.
Instead, he bought a caravan at a north Wales holiday park and spruced up his garden. The father of two young sons told Spin Bet: “Part of my money went on the garden and then we’ve also just bought a caravan in a Haven site in north Wales.
“It’s a lovely getaway from the house and from playing darts to spend some time with my family. Haven sites are always great for the kids, so there is plenty to do there.
“And it isn’t too far away, with it being an hour-and-a-half from down the road. I can be in my own luxury caravan out the way and loving life.
Bunting is one of the darts’ most popular players(Image: PA)
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“After the Worlds, I didn’t get much time off because I came back on the day of the final, got home and had not seen the baby for a week and I had her in my arms.
“My manager then rang me and said I was going to Germany for a pro-am gala, so I wasn’t at home too much to spend any money.”
At the current tournament, Bunting reached the last 32 with a routine 3-0 win over Nitin Kumar. After the match, he cut an emotional figure as he responded to social media criticism he had received for branding himself the “people’s champion” following his first-round win over Sebastian Bialecki.
Luke Littler proved too strong for Bunting at last year’s World Championship(Image: PA)
He said: “I’ve had some stick over social media. I made a comment in the media saying I was the people’s champion.
“That was literally a comment from what Sky have said, what PDC have said. It wasn’t me saying I’m the people’s champion.”
He added: “I’ve had quite a few emails as well, but I need to rise above that. People online are fickle. Listen, you see the crowd in there tonight, they’re proper darts fans. They know what I’m about.”
