‘What a feeling' – Topless Steve Bunting copies Luke Littler as he sleeps with Nordic Darts Masters Trophy
STEPHEN BUNTING is going global as he tries to prove his Premier League flop was a one-off.
The Bullet, 40, picked up a second World Series of Darts title this year on Saturday night as he beat Rob Cross 8-4 in the final in Copenhagen.
2
2
Bunting, ranked fourth in the world, slept with the Nordic Darts Masters trophy in his hotel room before catching a flight home to the UK.
The 40-year-old channelled his inner-Lionel Messi as he posted a cheeky topless snap of him cuddling up with the gong - just like rival Luke Littler.
He wrote on X: "Good morning Copenhagen! What a great feeling waking up along side this beauty."
Bunting's performances were a contrast to the misery he had endured during the 17-week Prem where he suffered 12 first-round losses.
Finishing bottom of the eight-man table would have rocked the confidence of lesser men.
But the St Helens thrower – whose 'Bunting Mental' shtick is growing around the world – has always believed he can cope with the elite in knockout events.
Trips to New York, Poland, Australia and New Zealand this summer could consolidate his position at the top of the rankings for this invitational series.
He said: "Listen, in the Premier League, you're playing the best players in the world.
"For whatever reason, it just didn't happen for me. I said to my management and family, I won't lose heart. I still believe.
"I put in some really good performances. Unfortunately it wasn't to be.
Premier League Darts star Stephen Bunting 'moonlighting as Rangers steward' as incredible Ibrox doppelganger spotted
"It was a long time since I had been in the Premier League, 10 years in fact, and it was like going back to a new school this year. I was proud of myself towards the end.
"I have shown how good I can be, especially on the World Series.
"I believe I am consistent. My doubles have let me down in the last two months.
"Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I know how good I can be. It's dog-eat-dog out there. I'm glad to be up there in the rankings.
"These aren't ranked tournaments. I will take these wins. It's all about gaining confidence, it's like a snowball effect.
"Hopefully this can rub off in the likes of the World Matchplay and other ProTours. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.
"When I went out in the arena, I saw the scarves, the shirts, the 'Bunting Mental' hats and cheers and chants.
"It was a great venue. The crowd rooted for me and got me through my games."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Fighting spirit lifts England U21s as they eye more history
England Under-21s have proved they have the fight to defend their European title. The mass brawl at the final whistle, coupled with a brilliant Euro 2025 quarter-final victory over Spain on Saturday, removed any doubt these Young Lions could be a soft touch. Charlie Cresswell promised pre-game there would be no lack of fight from England after their limp 2-1 loss to Germany and the Young Lions lived up to the billing. Cresswell was at the heart of protecting his team-mates, with players willing to fight for each other following a late challenge on Tino Livramento seconds before the final whistle. Similar scenes followed England's Euro 2023 final victory over Spain and the defending champions are not willing to let their title go quietly. They now face the Netherlands in the semi-finals on Wednesday after a performance full of class, style, guile and fight. "There's better ways to build camaraderie," manager Lee Carsley joked afterwards. "But we had something similar in the final [in 2023]. Emotions run high in those scenarios, you don't want anyone to get sent off or throw a punch. "You can see what it means to the players, we probably have to give them a bit of leeway. Thankfully it didn't go over the top, it's still not nice to see. We are always trying to encourage younger players to take up football but the passion was just a bit much."James McAtee, scorer of England's early opener, also epitomised the mood, the Manchester City midfielder ready and willing to dish it out. He said: "We were the two big teams in the tournament, so them kicking off, we can't just sit back and just let them do it. We have to give them a bit back, so I'm happy with the boys." Is it all coming together for England now? "I think there's still a lot more to come from the team. I said at the start of the tournament that the longer we can stay in I think the more joined up we'll become," said Carsley. The head coach has always been confident in his assertion England would start to find their feet and momentum in the competition as long as they qualified from the group. A win over the Czech Republic was followed by a draw with Slovenia and the defeat by Germany. Cresswell and Jay Stansfield produced standout performances while the substitutes also made an impact, especially Elliot Anderson after he came on soon after the break. "They are a really together group but I've been with together groups who have gone home quite early," said Carsley. "It was just a matter of time before it did click. I think our expectation of these players is always very high and I'm just glad that we've got into a position now where I feel that we've got a real good chance of pushing."Yet, despite saying he did not feel like an underdog going into the game against Spain, Carsley was reluctant to paint his side as tournament favourites now. He added: "We have to be humble. It's going to be a really difficult game, the semi-final. So we'll be fully prepared again. The Netherlands are another team we've watched for maybe six months now."We're fully aware of all their players, their strengths, their weaknesses. I've already got a few ideas on what we might change in terms of how we're going to build and attack them and you can guarantee we'll definitely be attacking them again." Making light of missing men Losing Liam Delap - the striker's £30m move from Ipswich to Chelsea saw him going with the Blues to the Club World Cup instead - robbed Carsley of a focal point up front. While it is easy to focus on the missing forward it created a clear problem, with England lacking a presence going forward and someone to finish off promising moves in the group continued to work good positions in the group stage - creating the third most chances in the tournament - but lacked the finishing touch. Marseille's Jonathan Rowe started up front in all three group games but failed to score and Stansfield was the only recognised out-and-out striker in the squad. The Birmingham striker scored 24 goals to help win the League One title last season and he does not have the physical presence of Delap yet he ran himself into the ground in Trnava. His selfless work opened space for others and he never gave the Spanish defence time to rest. The striker came off late on when it was clear he had nothing left in the Friday, Carsley spoke about taking more risks and being brave enough to potentially leave the gaps and that is exactly what he absence was key but he was not the only missing Bellingham's £33m move to Borussia Dortmund also saw him head Stateside with his new club, scoring against Mamelodi Sundowns a couple of hours before England kicked off in Trnava. Off the back of helping Sunderland return to the Premier League via the play-offs the midfielder would have undoubtedly been an asset for Carsley, as would Adam Wharton. The concussion Wharton suffered in Crystal Palace's FA Cup final triumph means he is another key man missing in this Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a winner in 2023, was absent with an ankle injury while Jarrad Branthwaite - also a champion two years ago - suffered a hamstring injury to keep him out. Despite the missing players, Carsley's band of brothers have shown they are ready to defend their title.
Metro
36 minutes ago
- Metro
Napoli open talks to sign another Man Utd star after Jadon Sancho agreement
Napoli are interested in signing another Manchester United star having enquired into a deal for Rasmus Hojlund. After a woeful second season in Manchester where he managed just four goals in 32 Premier League appearances, United are prepared to listen to offers for the Denmark international and make an upgrade up front ahead of the new campaign. Inter Milan have held talks with their Premier League counterparts in recent weeks over a move to bring the former Atalanta star back to Italy. The Nerazzurri are keen on a loan deal with an option to buy for €45million (£38m) but United are looking for a permanent arrangement. Hojlund is open to a return to Serie A this summer with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting Napoli are now back in the race to sign the 22-year-old. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The Italian champions have been in contact with United to discuss the costs of the move with Antonio Conte eager for another option up top alongside Romelu Lukaku. Napoli haven also reached out to Hojlund's representatives with those conversations described as 'positive'. The striker is keen to work with Conte and play alongside the likes of Lukaku and summer signing Kevin de Bruyne – not to mention former United teammate Scott McTominay who has been an instant hit in Naples. While Inter are unable to provide the transfer fee United are looking for this summer, Napoli are in a better position to do so following the sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January. Napoli are looking at other options, also holding discussions to sign Darwin Nunez from Liverpool. An asking price of €70m is problematic however, with Hojlund also having the advantage of Serie A experience behind him. United and Napoli have good business relations following McTominay's move last summer with the Italian giants credited with firm interest in another Old Trafford star. More Trending Earlier this week it was revealed the Italian side have made an approach to sign Jadon Sancho, one of a clutch of players who have been told they have no future under Ruben Amorim. After Chelsea decided against signing the former Borussia Dortmund star on a permanent deal, Napoli have emerged as favourites to sign him. Juventus are also keen but Sancho's preference is to join Conte's side, giving the move his approval this week. Napoli have also shown interest in Alejandro Garnacho, seeing a bid for the Argentina international rejected in January. While the winger is another who can leave United this summer, Napoli's interest in his services appears to have waned. MORE: Marc Guehi makes transfer decision after Arsenal and Liverpool interest MORE: Alexander Isak's stance on Liverpool transfer revealed with huge new asking price set MORE: Jurgen Klopp sends message to Florian Wirtz after record Liverpool transfer
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Cazorla scores as Oviedo return to La Liga
Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla kick-started a dramatic comeback as Real Oviedo won the La Liga 2 play-off final to return to the Spanish top flight after a 24-year absence.40-year-old Cazorla - who returned to his boyhood club in 2023 - converted a penalty late in the first half of Saturday's second leg with his side 2-0 down on aggregate to CD levelled the tie in the second half through Ilyas Chaira before Francisco Portillo scored a stunning winner in extra-time to secure claimed the decisive goal in the play-off semi-final tie against Almeria, coming off the bench to convert a free-kick and secure a 3-2 aggregate victory. Cazorla was a product of Oviedo's academy, but was forced to leave the club in 2003 when financial issues decimated the club's youth system and saw the first team re-enter in the third Oviedo faced another crisis a decade later, Cazorla was one of thousands of fans and former players who purchased shares in the club to keep it alive.A two-time European champion with Spain, the midfielder spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, going on to have 11 operations to cure the of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again, never mind play.
