Former world champion Stephen Bunting has credited “megastar” Luke Littler with lifting darts to new heights as he prepares for the start of another raucous World Championship at Ally Pally.
Bunting admits the sport’s popularity is a world away from when he won the now-defunct BDO title in 2014, and says the 17-year-old’s extraordinary rise has rubbed off on his rivals.
Such is the sport’s current popularity – last year’s final, in which Littler was pipped by Luke Humphries, was the most watched non-football event in Sky Sports history.
“What Luke has done for our sport in such a short space of time is just incredible, and he is the name on everybody’s lips,” Bunting said.
“He’s a megastar and he’s taken our sport to the top echelons. We were already up there for viewing figures behind Premier League football, but it is now at another level.
“I notice it when I go shopping and I get young kids asking me for autographs and pictures, which never really happened before. It just shows how Luke’s success is bringing the demographic of darts fans down.”
‘Sad to move away from Ally Pally’
Bunting has cautioned against moving away from Ally Pally
Bunting goes into this year’s tournament as a live contender after winning The Masters in Milton Keynes last February, although he could run into defending champion Humphries in the quarter-finals.
A long-time favourite of the Ally Pally crowd, the St Helens-born star cautioned against suggestions by the sport’s supremo Barry Hearn of a future move away from the venue which has hosted every World Championship since 2008.
“In my eyes it would be sad to move away from Ally Pally because it is an unbelievable place for darts,” said Bunting.
“You go there each year and there’s people dressed as Christmas trees and Batman and Robin. It’s a special place for players, officials and fans and it’s just a special venue.”
Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports?
Luke Humphries will aim to defend the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
Live darts returns to Sky Sports at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championshipbeginning on December 15, as Luke Humphries defends his title with Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Michael Smith all in action from Alexandra Palace – and you can enjoy the very best here.
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