Stephen Bunting believes he’s playing better than ever ahead of his clash against Martin Schindler at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix on Wednesday.
Bunting will take on German star Schindler for a place in the last eight at Leicester’s Morningside Arena, having dumped out World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall in round one.
Bunting has been one of the sport’s stand-out performers since the turn of the summer, reaching his second European Tour final at last month’s German Darts Open in Jena.
The 38-year-old also performed magnificently in last week’s ProTour treble-header, landing ton-plus averages in his nine of his 13 matches at the Barnsley Metrodome.
This stellar spell included averages of 111, 110, 109 and 106 in consecutive matches last Wednesday, and Bunting is brimming with confidence as he continues his bid for double-start glory.
“This isn’t just the best I’ve ever felt. I believe this is the best I’ve ever played,” insisted the two-time World Grand Prix semi-finalist.
“I’m practising harder than ever and I’m constantly working on my game to make sure I am the best Stephen Bunting that I can be.
“If I am the best Stephen Bunting I can be, I can win titles, no doubt about it.”
Bunting has been a regular contender for honours throughout the last decade, although he’s elevated his game to another level over recent months, which he attributes to a change of equipment.
The St Helens star became synonymous for using a 12g barrel – the lightest in the professional game – but having recently switched to an 18g barrel, he is now reaping the rewards.
“I’ve had the 18-gram darts since last July,” revealed Bunting, a winner of two PDC ranking titles.
“I literally got them out of the cupboard [recently], started playing with them and hit two nine-darters!
“I then missed double 12 for a third nine-darter of the day and I thought: ‘These are the darts for me’.
“When you throw a 12-gram dart, you feel every slight movement in a dart, so going up six grams may seem a lot, but I think I’m still the lightest on the tour.
“I think confidence is always a massive thing in darts, and I believe in my equipment ,and I believe in the preparation that I’m putting in for events.
“I’ve got a great team behind me. I’ve got a wonderful manager, a lovely family and a brilliant fanbase, and I’m not just doing it for myself, I’m doing it for them as well.”
Bunting spoke candidly in the past about visiting a sports psychologist in his bid to claim further PDC titles, and he believes that he can now become a serious contender once more.
“As long as I keep believing, I can be dangerous,” added the former Lakeside Champion.
“You reap the rewards from how you’re performing on the tour, and I would say I’m as consistent as I’ve ever been.
“I believe there is more in the tank as well, which is scary really, if I have bigger averages than 110 coming!”
Bunting could renew his rivalry with 2020 World Grand Prix champion Gerwyn Price in Friday’s quarter-finals, with the Welshman up against Krzysztof Ratajski in the last 16.
However, Bunting is refusing to get carried away ahead of his showdown against Schindler, who dumped out two-time finalist Raymond van Barneveld on Monday’s opening night.
“Martin is a quality player,” continued Bunting, who demolished Germany's number two in his run to September’s German Darts Open decider.
“I’ve played him recently on the European Tour in front of his home crowd, so hopefully the Leicester crowd can get behind me!
“I will just get on the practice board, make sure my doubles are going in and try and put him under as much pressure as I possibly can.”
The BoyleSports World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2023 BoyleSports World Grand Prix
Wednesday October 4 (1900 BST)
Second Round x4
Andrew Gilding v Gary Anderson
Stephen Bunting v Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price v Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael Smith v Brendan Dolan