Stephen Bunting has warned the likes of Luke Littler and Peter Wright he wholeheartedly believes he can win the World Darts Championship after thrashing Luke Woodhouse 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
The eighth seed told the Alexandra Palace crowd after a comprehensive victory on Monday night: “We can do this, we really can.”
Woodhouse won a mere three legs and was only three from 14 on his doubles as eighth seed Bunting blew him away with a clean sweep victory.
Bunting’s win, in which he threw six 180s to Woodhouse’s one, sets up a New Year’s Day showdown with Luke Humphries’ conqueror Wright.
And the Masters champion told Sky Sports on the oche: “It’s weird because in the practice room earlier on and all of today I felt so nervous. I don’t want to let these guys down. These are the heart and soul of the party.
“Unbelievable again guys, absolutely unbelievable. We can do this, you know, we really can!” The Liverpool fan from Fazakerley, 39, added: “At Anfield we always say it’s like the 12th man with the crowd, in here it’s no different.
“When we’re up on this stage, it’s a very, very lonely place and when things aren’t going right, it’s so tough and we need you guys behind us 100 per cent.
“I didn’t feel like I played my best but I’m really happy to get over the line.”
Two-time world champion Wright pulled off one of the most eye-catching results of the tournament by downing reigning champion Humphries 4-1 on Sunday evening despite a disappointing 2024 for the Scot.
And Bunting expects the very best version of the 54-year-old in their contest: “I’ve said all along, I don’t look at the other games, it doesn’t interest me because you can prepare yourself for a game that you’re never going to play.
“For me, it’s all about here and now, the moment. I’ve got Peter Wright now, I’ve got a day off. I’ll make sure I’m 100 per cent ready for that game.
“I expect the Peter Wright to turn up who was there yesterday against Luke. What a win for Peter, brilliant. What a friend of mine.
“I love the bones of Luke Humphries as well. So disappointed that he didn’t get through. I’m really looking forward to and like I said, in front of these fans we can win anything.”
Bunting and Wright are on the same side as Littler, and know whoever wins their contest will face the winner of Nathan Aspinall’s last-eight match against the Nuke or Ryan Joyce.
