World Number Six Stephen Bunting lost to Chris Dobey eight sets to one in the Player’s Championship 3 final this week.
The Bullet, from Merseyside, had played a fine day of darts, with three ton-plus averages en-route to the final, battling past the likes of Danny Noppert, Jonny Clayton and Player’s Championship 1 winner, James Wade.
𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗬𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡 🏆
Chris Dobey romps to his ninth ProTour title at Players Championship 3 in Wigan after demolishing a struggling Stephen Bunting in the final! 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/ot6AchNral
— Live Darts (@livedarts) February 16, 2026
It is the closest the St Helens’ player has got to winning so far this year.
He did not get further than the quarter-finals of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Masters, and failing to win a single match in the two Premier League events so far.
Bunting will be hoping to carry this good form into Thursday’s Premier League action in Glasgow, where he has not won a match since returning to the format last year.
Littler and Bunting face early Premier League pressure in Glasgow
Meanwhile, fellow St Helens player and World Number 22 Dave Chisnall has had mixed success.
Chizzy made it to the last 16 before losing to Daryl Guerny six sets to four.
It has also been a dire start to the year for 2023 World Champion Michael Smith, who despite recording a 151 checkout, lost to Alexander Merkx in the opening round.
TALK ABOUT A SKINSAVER 😮💨
Michael Smith takes out a MASSIVE 151 checkout to stay alive against Alexander Merkx, who would have returned to the oche with three match darts!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8#PC4 pic.twitter.com/Swzg3asPNT
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 17, 2026
The World Number 32 has had a difficult period as of late, having missed out on a spot at the Poland Darts Open last week.
(Featured image by PDC)
