Stephen Bunting is under intense scrutiny in the 2026 Premier League Darts, with former pro Matt Edgar warning that a failure to perform could lead to a "disastrous season." Bunting opened his campaign with a 6-2 defeat to Michael van Gerwen in Newcastle, averaging 97.59 but leaving empty-handed. Last Thursday in Antwerp, he let a 4-0 lead slip in the quarterfinals of Night 2, losing 6-4 to Jonny Clayton. This follows a difficult start last year where he lost his first seven matches before claiming a nightly win.
Edgar highlights a shift in public perception, noting that Premier League fans are an "elitist audience" who care only about wins, leading to negativity around Bunting. "If he isn’t performing after four weeks and getting those results, this could be a disastrous season," Edgar stated, emphasizing the need for early results to counter rising criticism. Darts content creator Charlie Murphy echoed concerns, saying Night 1 was "very important" for Bunting and didn't go his way, with next week being "absolutely crucial." Murphy warned that a repeat of last year's slow start would be ruinous, as "it can’t go on like last year, getting no wins for seven weeks."
Despite the pressure, analysts aren't criticizing Bunting's level of play. He averaged nearly 98 against Van Gerwen and close to 100 against Clayton, with Murphy emphasizing, "He is not playing bad darts" and is "one of the best players in the world." The focus remains on Bunting gaining confidence to translate solid performances into wins as the Premier League season progresses.
