Who is Stephen Bunting, the darts player who makes his triumphal entrance to Sia’s ‘Titanium’?
The Englishman has been the star of the tournament so far. He is driving the crowd crazy and has firmly advanced to the round of 16.
The PDC World Darts Championship is the largest darts event of the year. 2023′s edition it was closely followed because of the feat of Luke Littler and this time it is no less so.
One of the characters who is fast becoming a leader of the sport is world number 8 Stephen Bunting, in part due to his famous arena entrance song‘Titanium’, by David Guetta and Sia.
Bunting himself admitted after his round of 32 match that he had been emotional when he came in before the match against Latvian Razma: “When you hear the crowd... I cried during the entrance. And then they kept singing when the music finished. Maybe I should have controlled myself a little, but it’s special to play here, especially with thousands of people shouting your name.”
The Saint Helens-based Scouser beat Madars Razma 4-1 and will face Luke Woodhouse in the round of 16. His highest point in the tournament is the quarter-finals, reached in 2023, and this year he wants to aim higher.
A cult hero
Last February, Stephen Bunting won The Masters, the tournament that brings together the 24 best darts players according to the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) rankings. This victory finally brought him recognition for his skills after many fans and players refused to take him seriously.
Since then, Bunting multiplied his followers on social media tenfold through videos that have little to do with darts. His communications team has extended its reach globally and has accumulated half a million followers between Twitter (X), Instagram and TikTok.
The Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace), the venue for the World Cup, has been filled with posters with messages of support for Bunting during his first matches of the championship. He has been nicknamed “The Bullet” and it is written on the back of his shirt and the hashtag “#LetsGoBuntingMental” has become a phenomenon in the UK in recent weeks.
About to turn 40, he began competing professionally at the age of 18. His first major achievement came in January 2014 when he became the BDO World Champion. That victory catapulted him to the top and led to him accepting an invitation to join the PDC.
A hypnotist changed his career
A few months ago, Bunting revealed that a hypnotist helped him turn his career around and that going to him was fundamental to his success.
“I think he did a fantastic job for me. Every player is different, so I wouldn’t like to tell certain players: “This is what you have to do”, but you learn from the best.” Regarding the role he played, he said that “people don’t really understand what a hypnotist does.”
He explained it very clearly: “It doesn’t make you bark like a dog or put a clock in front of your eyes until you fall asleep. You immerse yourself for 25-30 minutes and that’s equivalent to four hours of sleep. It just focuses you. It relieves your stress and you play more freely.”
Riding high and supported, the ‘Bunting Mental’ phenomenon is looking to continue making history and reach new heights in the World Darts Championship. He will play his round of 16 match on Sunday or Monday and Ally Pally will go crazy again.
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