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Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship, Spotlight
Ryan Smart
Stephen Bunting has fired a clear warning to reigning champion Luke Littler ahead of the 2026 World Darts Championship.
Bunting, who is currently ranked at world number four, takes on Poland's Sebastian Bialecki in the first round at Alexandra Palace on December 14.
'The Bullet' reached the semi-finals of the 2025 tournament - his joint-best run since joining the PDC in 2014.
He lost to Luke Littler 6-1 in sets, though averaged 100 during the match and lost three of those sets in the deciding leg.
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This season, Bunting has won six titles across the Players Championship, European Tour and World Series.
He is already a world champion outside of the PDC, having won the BDO crown in 2014, and the Liverpool-born dartist says he is making sure he is ready to add a second to his CV come January.
Speaking to SPORTbible through Dream Vegas, Bunting stated: "I'm world number four, I've been playing the best stuff I ever have over the last year or so. I've won six titles this year, so I'm trying to win a seventh.
"I'm keeping myself occupied, doing exhibitions and keeping myself on the board, so I'm making sure that I turn up to Ally Pally in great form.
"It's up to me to make sure I turn up at the worlds thinking that every game is a final, make sure that no stone is left overturned. The preparation, the practice, the routine, everything comes into plan for that World Championships.
"It's seven games you have to win the World Championship. I'm willing to play every game like a final and go on to win.
"I know how good I can be. It's [the first round match] about turning up and making sure that I'm there in my best form, making it very, very difficult for him to live with, start strong and finish strong, and really put down statements for the rest of the players that The Bullet is coming."
Preparations perhaps couldn't have gone much better for Bunting so far, as he went on to win an exhibition in Portsmouth over the weekend.
He defeated Littler 4-3 in the semi-finals while averaging 100, before beating Adam Lipscombe 4-2 in the final.
Should he be successful at Ally Pally, Bunting will become the fifth player to complete the PDC-BDO double - after Dennis Priestley, Phil Taylor, John Part and Raymond van Barneveld - and the first since Part back in 2008.
After twelve years on the PDC circuit and nine titles to his name, the 40-year-old thinks he still has many more years left to give at the top of darts.
"It would be a massive achievement [to win both]," he says. "To be honest, I've had some great achievements in my career so far.
"I'm still only 40, I've got a lot more years to give to the sport. There would be nothing greater than going on to win the World Championship.
"I know there's a lot of hard work to be put in over the next week or so to make sure that I'm ready, but I'm willing to do that.
"I'm on the way to Newcastle for an exhibition, and I've got three more. I've got a practice session in with Damon Heta. So I'll be turning up at Ally Pally feeling 100 per cent, and I can't wait to get going."