‘It annoys me people pick up on that’ – Stephen Bunting hits back over claims of ‘weird’ behaviour with Luke Littler
‘It annoys me people pick up on that’ – Stephen Bunting hits back over claims of ‘weird’ behaviour with Luke Littler
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STEPHEN BUNTING has hit back at critics of his so-called "weird" behaviour when playing Luke Littler. Fan-favourite Bunting, 39, faced off against teen sensation Littler during the World Darts Championship. The Bullet was outclassed by the Nuke in a 6-1 thrashing in the semi-finals.
![[Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting shake hands after a darts match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/luke-littler-celebrates-gestures-stephen-961141687.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, Bunting got his revenge at the Dutch Darts Masters as he beat Littler 7-6 in the semi-finals. But the Liverpool-supporting darts ace has been criticised by rivals for his "weird behaviour" when playing Littler after he was seen fist-bumping him several times during their clash at Alexandra Palace.
![[Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting embracing after a darts match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2nd-january-2025-961142718_b2a14f.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Pal Dave Chisnall had remarked: "I’m not one for gamesmanship and you won’t hear me slagging folk off, but I did think the fist bumps after every set was a bit weird.". In response, Bunting told oche180: "He's a 17-year-old lad who's got the world at his feet, and he's still learning the game.
"I'm very respectful for what he's doing for our game and I hope he continues for a lot of years, because he's a lot more money to our sport. "On another note, I've known him personally since he was a little kid.". Despite the criticism, Bunting is choosing to bite the bullet and see it as a positive thing that people are talking more about a fist-bump than his performance.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. He continued: "It does annoy me a bit that people pick up upon that sort of thing, that shows how well I’m playing, that they have got to pick up on a fist-bump rather than a bad performance.". Bunting has been in electric form of late, despite losing to Rob Cross in the Dutch Masters final last night.
