Stephen Bunting silenced his critics and captured Night 4 of the Premier League Darts 2026 in a raucous SSE Arena in Belfast, defeating Gian van Veen 6-2 in the final. The St Helens thrower not only secured the weekly title but also recorded his highest ever average in the competition during the evening, marking a significant personal triumph he described as a release.
"What a wonderful night," an emotional Bunting said after his victory. He reflected on a difficult previous Premier League campaign, stating, "Losing seven or eight on the bounce last year really helped me, to be honest. It gave me a lot of experience in this field. When you're playing in the Premier League, you're playing against the best of the best." Bunting admitted to feeling emotional after his first game but held it together, praising the "unbelievable" crowd and ranking the win among the best of his career.
The win followed a period of solid performances without results, which Bunting attributed to improved mental resilience. "I've come off social media. I've got a great team behind me. I'm not looking at the negatives, I'm looking at the positives," he explained. He revealed seeking hypnotherapy at 8 a.m. on matchday to maintain a positive mindset, noting strong recent form on the European Tour and ProTour, including a final appearance where he "just ran out of steam."
Balancing elite darts with family life as the only current player with a one-year-old son at home, Bunting emphasized his self-belief. "I honestly do believe I'm one of the best players in the world. I believe I deserve to be in this Premier League and this goes a long way to showing why I should be here," he declared. He also praised fellow professional Josh Rock, calling him "one of the best players in the world" and expressing love for all competitors in the tournament.
With the victory, Bunting felt a weight lifted. "Thankfully now I've got that monkey off my back, whatever you call it. I can relax. I'm so happy with this win. Words can't describe it, to be honest," he concluded, thanking the fans for their support through adversity.
