STEPHEN BUNTING channelled his inner Lionel Messi after his Premier League Darts victory.
The Bullet won night nine of the tournament in Berlin after failing to get past the first round in the previous eight events this year.
Instagram / stephenbunting180Stephen Bunting posed in bed with his Premier League Darts night nine trophy[/caption]
Instagram @leomessiHe copied Lionel Messi’s iconic snap after 2022 World Cup victory with Argentina[/caption]
PDCBunting’s ended a ten-year Premier League wait for a win[/caption]
Bunting sensationally beat Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price to clinch glory last night.
And the fans’ favourite took to social media the following morning and replicated Messi‘s iconic snap of him laying in bed with the World Cup after victory in Qatar three years ago.
Bunting captioned his post with a touching message to his wife and two sons – but could not resist making a cheeky joke.
He wrote: “OMG. WOW. What can I say. This trophy has to be one of the best I’ve been in bed with .
“From the sheer turmoil of not winning a game in the first eight weeks of the Premier League, to then winning three on the night and claiming night nine in Berlin.
“What an amazing feeling. I’m so proud I showed grit and determination and I never once gave in.
“It’s always a great feeling when you bounce back off the canvas and the sweet taste this has left gives me massive confidence pushing forward.
“I’d like to thank my family (Keila, Toby & Theo) who have been inspiring me to keep believing even when things go wrong.
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“Massive thanks to my manager who’s always there through thick and thin and we are a great team together.
“Massive thanks to my sponsors who put their faith in me to be the best I can be and I’m proud for your support guys.
“And last but by no means least… a huge huge thanks to the fans, I know supporting me can sometimes be difficult and rest assured that whenever I go up on the stage or to the oche I always give 110 per cent.
“This victory isn’t just for me guys, you all share this with me and I can’t thank you all enough. You really are an inspiration every time I step on the stages.
“The ‘let’s go Bunting mental’ chant is so loud now and the walk on… what can I say… it leaves me so emotional that you guys sing it back in such a way it warms my heart. I love you all.”
The Liverpudlian’s victory in the German capital pocketed him £10,000 and it stopped him equalling an unwanted record.
Failure to beat Aspinall in his opener last night would have seen him match Peter Wright‘s run of 13 consecutive games without a win in the Prem.
Bunting’s drought dated back ten years from his one previous appearance in the competition in 2015.
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
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