Stephen Bunting’s World Championship semi-final defeat to Luke Littler has sparked controversy, with some observers accusing the fan favorite of displaying “weird” behavior during the match. Bunting, who was unable to recover from a 4-0 deficit, ultimately lost 6-1 to the eventual champion at Alexandra Palace. While Littler’s performance was stellar, Bunting’s actions on stage, particularly in the latter stages of the match, have raised questions.
Despite the high stakes of the semi-final, the atmosphere on stage remained friendly, with both players regularly fist bumping and congratulating each other on checkouts. Bunting, known for his likable demeanor, showed his usual sportsmanship, but his reactions during the match left some fans and pundits puzzled. When Bunting won his only set, he laughed ironically and jokingly urged the crowd to offer more applause, a moment that stood out amid his struggles on stage.
While Bunting’s lightheartedness may have been an attempt to remain positive despite the scoreline, not everyone was impressed by his behavior. Dave Chisnall, a semi-finalist at the 2021 World Championship, was critical of Bunting’s lack of aggression. Chisnall, who is a close friend of Bunting, expressed disappointment at his performance after the opening set.
“The one big disappointment of the semi-finals was my pal Stephen Bunting,” Chisnall said. “He was phenomenal in the first set, but will have been gutted to lose it 3-2, despite the high averages.” However, Chisnall took issue with Bunting’s behavior later in the match, specifically his fist bumps after each set. “I’m not one for gamesmanship and you won’t hear me slagging folk off, but I did think the fist bumps after every set was a bit weird,” he added.
The friendly rapport between Bunting and Littler stood in stark contrast to the intensity of the final, where Littler faced Michael van Gerwen. In the final, Littler dominated early, surging to a 4-0 lead before securing a 7-3 victory to claim his first world title. Chisnall noted the difference in attitude between the semi-final and the final, where van Gerwen was far less tolerant of the friendly exchanges. “It was noticeable that Michael was having none of it in the final,” Chisnall said, commenting on van Gerwen’s no-nonsense approach.
While Chisnall acknowledged Littler’s impressive performance, he also questioned the form of some players in the current darts scene. Reflecting on the changes in the rankings, he expressed satisfaction at seeing Bunting return to the top but also voiced doubts about some other players retaining their spots. “It’s good to see Chris Dobey and Steven Bunting rewarded with a spot,” he noted. “It seems like something of a changing of the guard with no Michael Smith and no Peter Wright, while Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price can both feel a bit lucky in my opinion to be involved this year.”
Bunting’s defeat to Littler may have been a tough blow, but his behavior on stage and Chisnall’s critiques have sparked debate about the expectations of top-level sportsmanship and performance. While some may view his lightheartedness as a coping mechanism, others believe that Bunting missed an opportunity to show the aggression and focus needed to challenge Littler’s brilliance. As Bunting looks ahead to future tournaments, his performance and demeanor on stage will continue to be closely scrutinized by fans and fellow players alike.
