Stephen Bunting reveals how he would react to rival nine-darter after opponent’s viral moment
If Luke Woodhouse lands a nine-dart finish, don’t expect to see Stephen Bunting jumping for joy on stage. Woodhouse made headlines for the way he celebrated third round rival Damon Heta’s sensational nine-dart leg on Friday. PDCWoodhouse showed he was all class when he wildly celebrated Heta’s nine-darter[/caption] As Heta closed in on the perfect finish, Woodhouse turned to the crowd and began fist-pumping, only to explode through the roof once the Australian pinned double 12. Despite Heta’s epic moment that landed him and a lucky member of the crowd £60,000 each, Woodhouse roared back to claim a 4-3 victory and book a spot against Bunting in the fourth round. Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT after the game, Woodhouse explained he celebrated wildly because ‘it felt like I had hit it myself.’ Although Woodhouse won plenty of admirers for the sportsmanship showed after Heta’s moment of magic, Bunting doesn’t plan on recreating those scenes. Instead, the Liverpudlian is laser-focused on the task at hand as he looks to progress to the quarter-final stage for the second time in three years. “He’s (Luke Woodhouse) a great player,” Bunting told talkSPORT. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him. If he hits a nine-darter, I won’t be jumping around the stage and doing cartwheels, don’t get me wrong. “I’ll give him a handshake and we’ll get on with the rest of the game. “I’m fully focused on that game now. What’s gone before has gone. I’ve got a good record against him and all that. “But I also know that I need to turn up and play my best game to win, which I’m prepared to do.” PDCDon’t expect Bunting to go mental if Woodhouse lands a perfect leg on Monday[/caption] Beating Woodhouse will be no easy task for Bunting, with the former going into their fourth round match in red-hot form. The win over No. 9 seed Heta on the World Championship stage was one of the biggest scalps in Woodhouse’s career. Prior to beating Heta, Woodhouse knocked out 2024 World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker in the second round. Woodhouse’s impressive victories at the Alexandra Palace are an extension of the dazzling displays he put on to reach the semi finals of this year’s European Championship, where he bowed out to eventual winner Ritchie Edhouse. With the wind blowing in Woodhouse’s sail, Bunting is undoubtedly expecting a difficult task on Monday. However, a series of practice sessions with close pal and defending world champion Luke Humphries has a confident Bunting feeling ‘dangerous’. PDCBunting may have to beat three players named Luke on his way to the final[/caption] “There’s no easy games these days,” Bunting said. “It’s been well documented. “I’ve been practising with Luke Humphries as well. Me and Luke Humphries are really good friends, but I’ve got Luke Woodhouse in the way. “So get rid of Luke Woodhouse, then it’s Luke Humphries. Get rid of Luke Humphries, then it’s Luke Littler. And then they’ll try and find another Luke. “So it’s going to be difficult. I’ve got to keep just focused on the first game and we’ll see how we go from there.” “I’m feeling really relaxed. I’m feeling really confident. And that makes me dangerous.”
If Luke Woodhouse lands a nine-dart finish, don’t expect to see Stephen Bunting jumping for joy on stage.
Woodhouse made headlines for the way he celebrated third round rival Damon Heta’s sensational nine-dart leg on Friday.
As Heta closed in on the perfect finish, Woodhouse turned to the crowd and began fist-pumping, only to explode through the roof once the Australian pinned double 12.
Despite Heta’s epic moment that landed him and a lucky member of the crowd £60,000 each, Woodhouse roared back to claim a 4-3 victory and book a spot against Bunting in the fourth round.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT after the game, Woodhouse explained he celebrated wildly because ‘it felt like I had hit it myself.’
Although Woodhouse won plenty of admirers for the sportsmanship showed after Heta’s moment of magic, Bunting doesn’t plan on recreating those scenes.
Instead, the Liverpudlian is laser-focused on the task at hand as he looks to progress to the quarter-final stage for the second time in three years.
“He’s (Luke Woodhouse) a great player,” Bunting told talkSPORT.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him. If he hits a nine-darter, I won’t be jumping around the stage and doing cartwheels, don’t get me wrong.
“I’ll give him a handshake and we’ll get on with the rest of the game.
“I’m fully focused on that game now. What’s gone before has gone. I’ve got a good record against him and all that.
“But I also know that I need to turn up and play my best game to win, which I’m prepared to do.”
Beating Woodhouse will be no easy task for Bunting, with the former going into their fourth round match in red-hot form.
The win over No. 9 seed Heta on the World Championship stage was one of the biggest scalps in Woodhouse’s career.
Prior to beating Heta, Woodhouse knocked out 2024 World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker in the second round.
Woodhouse’s impressive victories at the Alexandra Palace are an extension of the dazzling displays he put on to reach the semi finals of this year’s European Championship, where he bowed out to eventual winner Ritchie Edhouse.
With the wind blowing in Woodhouse’s sail, Bunting is undoubtedly expecting a difficult task on Monday.
However, a series of practice sessions with close pal and defending world champion Luke Humphries has a confident Bunting feeling ‘dangerous’.
“There’s no easy games these days,” Bunting said.
“It’s been well documented.
“I’ve been practising with Luke Humphries as well. Me and Luke Humphries are really good friends, but I’ve got Luke Woodhouse in the way.
“So get rid of Luke Woodhouse, then it’s Luke Humphries. Get rid of Luke Humphries, then it’s Luke Littler. And then they’ll try and find another Luke.
“So it’s going to be difficult. I’ve got to keep just focused on the first game and we’ll see how we go from there.”
“I’m feeling really relaxed. I’m feeling really confident. And that makes me dangerous.”
