Stephen Bunting should be nowhere near the Premier League – it’s the wrong decision | Other | Sport
Stephen Bunting shouldn’t be anywhere near the Premier League after his sub-standard year and it’s a bit disappointing that he’s been included in the line-up. The eight-strong list was confirmed on Monday afternoon, with Bunting being given one of four wildcards by the PDC. Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price will also take part in the Premier League this year.
They have joined Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen to complete the line-up for 2026. Those four players had already qualified through being the highest-ranked throwers in the Order of Merit. The selection picks always spark a debate but the inclusion of Bunting has really left me scratching my head.
The tournament is supposed to bring the very best players together to provide the maximum level of entertainment for fans. Why, then, has Bunting been chosen?
He picked up the wooden spoon in last year’s Premier League, finishing rock bottom and losing his first eight matches in a row. That alone should have been a sign to give somebody else a chance in 2026.
To make matters worse, Bunting went no further than the third round in his last six majors and was dumped out of the World Championship by James Hurrell, who was ranked 63rd.
While he did have a strong campaign away from the televised tournaments, winning multiple Players Championship, European Tour and World Series events, that shouldn’t be enough to justify a spot in the Premier League.
Those places should be reserved for players who can perform at the big competitions, with Ryan Searle unlucky to miss out following his run to the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace.
There is, of course, the entertainment aspect of the Premier League which appears to have taken priority on this occasion.
Bunting is well-known for his walk-on routine and fans love belting out the lyrics to Titanium while the 40-year-old whips up the crowd and sings along himself.
However, this alone shouldn’t be a reason for a player to be selected in the Premier League. Their performances at the oche should come first and it devalues the competition to choose the line-up based simply on how ‘iconic’ a player is.
Bunting’s inclusion sends a message to other players outside the top four in the Order of Merit that no matter how good you’ve been, you’ll be overlooked if you’re not deemed an entertainer. That’s the wrong message to send and isn’t fair, in my opinion.
The Premier League is a completely different beast from a string of standalone tournaments, with players required to travel relentlessly and perform to a high standard on a weekly basis.
Bunting hasn’t shown that he is capable of doing that over the last 12 months and his selection is, respectfully, a shame for those wishing to see top-quality darts take priority over elaborate walk-on routines.
I really don’t have anything against Bunting, who seems like a lovely bloke, but he’ll need to improve massively to show that his Premier League selection was the right call.
