STEPHEN BUNTING celebrated his Premier League Darts victory with a surprise gift to go alongside his trophy and cheque for £10,000.
The Bullet came into night nine in Berlin without a win after crashing out in the first round at every event this year.
PDCStephen Bunting was given a bear alongside his trophy after winning night nine in Berlin[/caption]
PDCThe Bullet had not won a Premier League game this year before last night[/caption]
But Bunting produced three sensational performances, beating Nathan Aspinall, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price to clinch glory last night.
The 39-year-old was presented with a trophy on stage and he also bizarrely got handed a figurine of a bear.
Eagle-eyed fans were left baffled by the odd prize but there is a German tradition behind the gift.
The bear represents the symbol of Berlin and a specially painted version of it is often given to singers and sportspeople that take to the Uber Arena stage.
Bunting’s victory stopped him equalling a horror Peter Wright record of 13 games without a win in the Premier League.
The Liverpudlian’s nightmare dated back to 2015 when he was last in the tournament.
And Bunting was thrilled to end his ten-year drought, saying: “No, it’s still not sunk in, it has been a bit of a whirlwind. The aim was to try and win one game, to be honest.
“After the first eight weeks I feel like I’ve played really well throughout the tournament and it’s been a lonely place, but I’ve done it.
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“I can’t believe it and I’m over the moon to win a Premier League night, it is a special achievement, especially here in Berlin.
“The crowd was fantastic tonight and I’m glad that I could give the German fans something back.
“I’ve not played in the Premier League for ten years, this my debut here in Berlin, it’s a dream debut, looking around the place it’s such a special venue and I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.
“I’ve won a massive trophy, I’ve got a bear, I’m just so glad to be back in the Premier League.
“I’ve worked really hard over the last few years to push my rankings up to warrant my place in the Premier League. I really do believe I deserve to be here.
“There’s a lot of negatives that happen on social media when you don’t win games but this is one back to them.
“I know I’m good enough to be here. I’m number five in the world, soon to be number four, this is hopefully just the start of things to come.”
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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