Former world champion Stephen Bunting has credited ‘megastar’ Luke Littler with taking darts to new heights as he prepares for another torrid world championships start at Ali Pali.
Bunting admits the sport’s popularity has come a long way since he won the now-defunct BDO title in 2014 and says the 17-year-old’s extraordinary rise has struck a chord with his rivals.
Such is the current popularity of the sport. last year’s final, featuring Littler with Luke Humphreys, was the most-watched non-football event in Sky Sports history.
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Bunting says he aims to return to the Premier League in the future and praised Littler’s impact on the sport.
“What Luke has done for our sport in such a short space of time is just incredible and he’s a name on everyone’s lips,” Bunting said.
“He’s a megastar and he’s taken our sport to the top echelons. We’ve been there to watch the figures behind Premier League football, but now it’s on another level.
“I notice it when I go shopping and young kids ask me for autographs and pictures, which really didn’t happen before. It just shows how Luke’s success is bringing down the demographic of darts fans.”
“It’s sad to leave Dashnak Pali”
Bunting warned about leaving Ally Pally
Bunting enters this year’s tournament as a live contender after winning the Milton Keynes Masters last February, although he could face defending champion Humphreys in the quarter-finals.
A long-time favorite with the Aly Pally crowd, the St Helens-born star warned against suggestions by the sport’s chief executive Barry Hearn that he would leave the venue, which has hosted every World Cup since 2008, in the future.
“It would be sad in my eyes to leave Ally Pally because it’s an incredible place for darts,” Bunting said.
“You go there every year and there’s people dressed up like a Christmas tree and Batman and Robin. It’s a special place for the players, the officials and the fans, and it’s just a special place.”
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Luke Humphreys will aim to defend his World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
Live darts are back! Sky Sports in 2025 PDC World Darts ChampionshipFrom December 15, when Luke Humphreys defends his title alongside Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Michael Smith from Alexandra Palace, you can enjoy the best here.
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