‘It was horrendous’ – Stephen Bunting reveals death threats from raging gamblers after shock darts defeat

STEPHEN BUNTING has opened up on terrifying death threats he received from gamblers after a shock defeat at the oche. The St Helens ace is one of darts‘ most recognisable faces thanks to his internet-breaking walk-on to David Guetta’s Titanium. Stephen Bunting has opened up on sickening death threats he received Credit: Alamy Bunting was messaged by gamblers after a shock defeat to James Hurrell at the world darts championship Credit: Shutterstock Editorial However, that fame comes at a price, and sometimes that price is vile abuse from viewers. Bunting has opened up on one such case, revealing how he received death threats following a shock loss to then world No 63 James Hurrell at last year’s World Darts Championship. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! He told The Guardian: “We had death threats being inboxed. “It was horrendous. Still to this day, we can’t understand how it all came to that.” Some of the vitriol by the furious gamblers was aimed at his 13-year-old son, Toby. Bunting continued: “It was very hurtful because people were saying so many nasty things about Toby. “With me not doing so well he was also being bullied at school. “So I ended up putting him in private school and he’s flourishing now. Most read in Sport Bunting was disgusted after the trolls aimed abuse at his son Credit: instagram / @stephenbunting180 Darts travel offers WE have teamed up with some of the UK’s finest travel firms to come up with these darts packages. Join the party when Luke Littler and co take centre stage. 🎯 MR VEGAS GRAND SLAM OF DARTS — Ticket to the darts plus night at handpicked hotel from £129 — BUY HERE 🎯 PDC PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS— See the world’s finest players go head to head at Butlin’s Minehead — BUY HERE * If you click on a link we will earn affiliate revenue. “But I’ll never mention the people’s champion again.” Even before that defeat the world No10 was the target of hate after declaring himself “the people’s champion”. The 41-year-old said of his first-round win over Sebastian Bialecki: “After I won my first-round match you get dragged into the back where the press are and I was asked how I was going to cope with my next opponent, [India’s] Nitin Kumar, as he’s got a big fanbase. “I said: ‘Well, I’m the people’s champion’ as I’ve been called that by Sky, ITV and other channels. “That was a tongue‑in‑cheek comment but my socials blew up.” Bunting isn’t the only star to get pelters from fans, with the likes of Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price consistently being booed by fans during matches. The Bullet’s haters have been mostly reserved to faceless social media trolls, though he admits it’s “not nice” to see it happen. He continued: “There hasn’t been too much hostility. But it’s not nice. I remember a match years ago in the Premier League in Glasgow against Peter Wright. “He was wearing a Scotland shirt and I ended up drawing the game six-all after I’d been 6-1 up. “I’ve never heard anything like it. My chest was literally beating with the boos and it was horrendous. I just wanted to get off the stage.” Bunting is due back in action at the Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp this weekend. He is one of the 16 seeded players in the tournament, with the winner taking home £35,000. Comment now