Stephen Bunting urges PDC to immediately change 'cut-throat' Grand Slam of Darts rule
Stephen Bunting immediately sent a message to the PDC after clinching a narrow 5-4 win over Raymond Smith in his opening match at the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts.
After missing out on automatic qualification for the event through the traditional route - either by winning a PDC major title or reaching a major televised final - the world No.9 had to come through a nail-biting PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier at Leicester's Mattioli Arena.
He became the highest-ranked player to qualify for the event unscathed, producing a trio of ton-plus averages in wins over Arno Merk, Callan Rydz and Jimmy van Schie to book his spot at a seventh Grand Slam.
Stephen Bunting wants qualifying criteria to change for Grand Slam of Darts
Bunting arrived as the ninth seed in Wolverhampton and was drawn in Group D with Cameron Menzies and Raymond Smith, two players who had won titles to get there.
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Some felt that the 41-year-old had been put in a more advantageous position based on where he is in the rankings after being listed as the top seed in the group, and 'The Bullet' certainly showed his class against Smith.
He came from two legs down to beat the Australian 5-4 on Saturday, notably throwing a 100 average and four 180s to ensure he got off to the best possible start.
Although Bunting was delighted to get over the line and record two points on the board, he was also quick to point out the gruelling battle he faced to book his spot at the tournament, suggesting that the PDC should "change" the qualifying criteria.
"I was hoping it [qualifying criteria] was going to change to be honest to get me in," Bunting said via the Oche180. "Them qualifiers are cut-throat.
"Thankfully, I've played well enough to enable myself to get here. I played great in the qualifiers, and listen, if that's the way the PDC feel that the criteria needs to be, then so be it.
"They're the bosses at the end of the day."
Bunting may have made it through the last-chance Tour Card Holder qualifier, but several other big names missed out, including 2022 Grand Slam champion Michael Smith. The 'Bully Boy' - who has slipped down to No.37 in the PDC Order of Merit - was beaten in the final round of qualifying alongside the legendary Raymond van Barneveld, Danny Noppert and former double world champion Peter Wright.
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Stephen Bunting confident about Grand Slam of Darts chances
Undoubtedly delighted to come through a nail-biting clash against Smith, Bunting will now play Menzies on Sunday, knowing a win would secure his place in the last 16.
"I'm really happy with the equipment, and I feel like I'm playing towards the upper end of how good I know I can be," he said.
"I don't know what the stats were, but it felt like a really good game, apart from those missed doubles. I'm really happy, and obviously best-of-nine can be so difficult. It's a quick format, but I'm happy to get over the line."
Bunting's best performance at the Grand Slam came in 2023 when he reached the semi-finals and, after arguably a mixed 2026 so far, going deep into this tournament could be perfect timing ahead of the Players Championship Finals and World Darts Championship in December.
Topics: Stephen Bunting, Darts
Thomas Griffin
