Brilliant Bunting Storms to Players Championship 18 Success in Leicester

Stephen Bunting continued his blistering 2025 form with a phenomenal display on Wednesday to claim the Players Championship 18 title, defeating Jermaine Wattimena 8-5 in a high-quality final at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.

Bunting, who has already enjoyed a standout season with World Series wins in Bahrain and Copenhagen and a European Tour triumph at April’s International Darts Open, added yet another trophy to his growing collection with a string of commanding performances.

The 40-year-old was near-unstoppable across the day, averaging over 100 in six of his seven matches. From the first dart to the last, “The Bullet” was locked in—starting with a comfortable 6-2 win over William Borland before dispatching Ian White and European Champion Ritchie Edhouse by 6-3 scorelines.

His standout performance came in the Last 16, where he averaged 106.43 to defeat Scotland’s Alan Soutar, setting the tone for what would become one of his most complete days on the oche.

Grit and Glory on the Road to the Final

Bunting’s path to the final wasn’t without its challenges. In the quarter-finals, he had to recover from 5-4 down against Karel Sedlacek, the Czech number one, to win 6-5 in a high-pressure encounter. Another deciding-leg thriller followed in the semi-finals as Bunting edged past top seed Dave Chisnall, closing out the match with a stunning 12-dart leg.

The final pitted Bunting against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, who was chasing his first PDC ranking title. Wattimena made the brighter start, breaking throw early to take a 1-0 lead. But Bunting soon found his rhythm, stringing together five consecutive legs—including spectacular finishes of 164 and 156—to storm ahead 5-1.

Wattimena showed tremendous resolve to claw his way back into contention, winning four of the next five legs to cut the deficit to 6-5. But Bunting shut the door with an emphatic response, delivering an 11-darter to wrap up victory and clinch his fourth title of 2025 and third ever Players Championship crown.

“I’m Playing With a Smile – and That Makes Me Dangerous!”

“I think I’ve only had two averages under 100 over the last two days, so I’m really pleased,” Bunting said post-match, reflecting on a red-hot spell of form. “When you lose in finals, you’ve got to learn from it. I’ve had some tough games today, so that resilience is something I can be really proud of.”

Having featured in the 2025 Premier League and found success on the World Series and European Tour circuits, Bunting arrived in Leicester full of belief.

“I really enjoyed the Premier League this year. I’ve won on the European Tour and played well on the World Series circuit, so I came into this week with massive confidence,” he added. “I’m playing with a smile on my face—and when I’ve got a smile on my face, I’m dangerous!”

Wattimena’s World Matchplay Hopes Boosted

Despite falling short in the final, Wattimena’s run to the title match significantly boosts his bid to qualify for next month’s World Matchplay. The Dutchman opened with a 105 average against Darryl Pilgrim and followed it up with wins over Carl Sneyd and World Cup champion Josh Rock, defying a 102 average from Rock in the process.

He then dug deep to win four consecutive deciding-leg matches, defeating Ryan Searle, Mike De Decker, and Niels Zonneveld to earn his spot in the final and a valuable £10,000 runner-up prize.

Zonneveld was another standout performer, reaching his second semi-final of the campaign after notable wins over Martin Schindler and James Wade.

High Averages, Surprise Exits

It was a day of top-tier darts and unexpected exits in Leicester. Ross Smith and Danny Noppert delivered the two highest averages of the day—111 and 110—in wins over Cor Dekker and Jelle Klaasen, respectively. Ryan Searle impressed with a pair of 108 averages, but his run ended in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson, and Tuesday’s runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode all suffered shock first-round defeats, a reminder of the depth and unpredictability of talent on the ProTour.

Cam Crabtree also turned heads with his best run in a senior ranking event since July 2024, reaching the quarter-finals alongside Sedlacek, De Decker, and Denmark’s number one, Benjamin Reus.

Brilliant Bunting Storms to Players Championship 18 Success in Leicester

2025 Players Championship 18

Wednesday June 18

Mattioli Arena, Leicester

Last 16

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Mervyn King

Cam Crabtree 6-3 Callan Rydz

Stephen Bunting 6-4 Alan Soutar

Karel Sedlacek 6-2 Damon Heta

Niels Zonneveld 6-1 James Wade

Benjamin Reus 6-4 Jonny Clayton

Mike De Decker 6-0 Ross Smith

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Ryan Searle

Quarter-Finals

Dave Chisnall 6-4 Cam Crabtree

Stephen Bunting 6-5 Karel Sedlacek

Niels Zonneveld 6-5 Benjamin Reus

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Mike De Decker

Semi-Finals

Stephen Bunting 7-6 Dave Chisnall

Jermaine Wattimena 7-6 Niels Zonneveld

Final

Stephen Bunting 8-5 Jermaine Wattimena