The PDC Needs To See Sense and Drop Stephen Bunting From the Premier League

With the Darts World Championships coming to an end tomorrow, four remain, Luke Littler, Gary Anderson, Gian Van Veen, and Ryan Searle, all four putting on very impressive showings. Some massive names like Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, and Peter Wright were all eliminated prior to the semi-finals, and it could have a massive effect on their Premier League chances, but one player may even face even worse consequences.

Stephen Bunting was the biggest story in darts last year, he was a fan favourite, a cult hero, and what people, and himself even begin to call ‘The People’s Champion’. Bunting went viral for his electric walk on, comical habits, and overall image, but this year, the so called ‘Bunting effect’ didn't really show any sort of flair, and could have a massive impact on his chances of making the dr=arts Premier League.

As for the PDC rankings, Dutch superstar Gian Van Veen has now found himself as the third ranked overall player in the world, automatically booking his spot into the Premier League this year. As for the likes of Stephen Bunting, Johnny Clayton, and Danny Noppert, their rankings have drastically dropped, and their chances look very thin now. However, differently to Noppert and Clayton and all the other stars of darts who got unlucky in the worlds, Stephen Bunting has some sort of a protection, his image keeping him going, not merit. 

Last year Bunting really couldn't keep up with the big boys in the Premier League, but back then it was crazy to think he wouldn't make the Premier League with how much he was loved and how many eyes it would bring to the competition, but that shouldn't warrant any sort of automatic place this year, and both Sky and the PDC really need to look past the monetary value that Bunting brings, and look to make the competition as competitive as it should be.

Guys like Ryan Searle and Gian Van Veen are people who have proved themselves and worked 110% throughout this tournament and others, and even if guys like Searle don't make the Premier League, it would be travesty to take a guy like Bunting just for TV value, and the PDC need to look past everything away from darts, and give the competition as much compete as possible.