Stephen Bunting won the Bahrain Darts Masters (Picture: PDC)
Stephen Bunting won the Bahrain Darts Masters (Picture: PDC)

Darts results: Stephen Bunting overcomes Luke Littler's conqueror Gerwyn Price to win the Bahrain Darts Masters title


Stephen Bunting won the opening event of the new season by defeating Gerwyn Price in the Bahrain Darts Masters final.

The Bullet, who was beaten by Luke Littler in the semi-finals of the World Championship earlier this month, had earlier thrashed Chris Dobey 6-0 with an average of 113 before edging out Luke Humphries 6-5 in a thrilling semi-final.

Bunting produced another sublime performance against Price to run out an 8-4 winner with an average of 99.33 to claim his maiden World Series title and send out a warning to his rivals ahead of his Masters defence later this month and the Premier League Darts campaign.

“What a lovely trophy this is,” said Bunting. “Coming off the back of making the semi-finals at the World Championship, I came here full of confidence.

“I am playing the best I have ever played. I’m more consistent than ever before and now I’m believing I can win titles.

“The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology in the past, it’s taken a lot of hard work.

“I can’t produce my best darts without these wonderful crowds. Wherever we play – whether it be Bahrain, Germany, the Netherlands or back home in the UK, the fanbase that I’m building at the moment is crazy.

“From feeling down in the dumps to becoming the world number five is an incredible feeling, and hopefully the only way is up!”

Price silenced the critics who claimed he didn't deserve a Premier League spot by thrashing Luke Littler 6-2 with an average of 115 and almost hit a nine-dart finish.

The Iceman saw off Peter Wright in the semi-finals but was unable to produce his best against a rampant Bunting in the final.

Price said: "I'm getting back to my best! Apparently me and Nathan Aspinall weren't supposed to be in the Premier League but we were the best two players this week apart from Stephen Bunting.

"Everyone has a blip and people can write us off but I'll come back fighting stronger than ever, I know the talent I've got and I'll always improve."

Bahrain Darts Masters: Tournament results

Round One

  • Paolo Nebrida 6-3 Rob Cross
  • Gerwyn Price 6-3 Lok Yin Lee
  • Stephen Bunting 6-2 Nitin Kumar
  • Chris Dobey 6-0 Basem Mahmood
  • Luke Humphries 6-0 Abdulla Saeed
  • Luke Littler 6-3 Lourence Ilagan
  • Peter Wright 6-3 Alexis Toylo
  • Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Xiaochen Zong

Quarter-Finals

  • Luke Humphries 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
  • Stephen Bunting 6-0 Chris Dobey
  • Gerwyn Price 6-2 Luke Littler
  • Peter Wright 6-4 Paolo Nebrida

Semi-Finals

  • Stephen Bunting 7-6 Luke Humphries
  • Gerwyn Price 7-4 Peter Wright

Final

  • Stephen Bunting 8-4 Gerwyn Price

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