Stephen Bunting is set to step onto the stage in front of his home crowd in Liverpool on Thursday night, and he can expect an outpouring of affection from the local fans. The atmosphere, however, is likely to be far less welcoming for his fellow competitor, back‑to‑back world champion Luke Littler, who has recently endured a series of boos following a public dispute with Dutch player Gian van Veen in Manchester. Even aside from that incident, Littler has already been on the receiving end of criticism from a Manchester United supporter who has not hesitated to highlight Liverpool's poor form this season on social media.
Bunting, aware of the unpredictable nature of live audiences, admits that there is little a player can do to control how the crowd reacts. "It's not for me to say, to be honest," he told reporters when asked about the boos he has heard. "I’m in a position where the crowd generally reacts positively toward me.
I try to do everything right on the oche whenever I can." He recalled a moment after the World Championship when he may have used a word that was deemed inappropriate, resulting in a harsh reaction from some fans. "Fans react the way they want to react," Bunting said. "We can’t change that. A lot of people sit behind keyboards and write all sorts of things, and that’s beyond our control.
If people in the venue decide to boo, that’s entirely on them." The Premier League Darts player stressed that his focus remains on staying clean, playing his own game and staying out of other players' business. "As long as I keep being clean, keep doing my own thing and avoid causing trouble, hopefully I won’t give anyone a reason to boo me," he added. Bunting is also someone who thrives on crowd energy, and he is looking forward to a special showdown when he meets Premier League leader Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals. "It’s always emotional when you’re in front of your home fans," he said.
"I’ll have a few extra seconds on my walk‑on, take a deep breath, and try not to get too emotional. I’m really looking forward to it." He confessed that the day had already been emotionally charged, mentioning a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. "If I win, I might have a little cry, but let’s focus on the match first," he joked. Bunting has experienced both sides of the home‑crowd dynamic.
He recalled Gerwyn Price’s warm welcome in Wales and Michael van Gerwen’s enthusiastic reception in the Netherlands. "Last year I played van Gerwen in Rotterdam. I managed to overcome the pressure and win," Bunting reflected. "A few weeks ago I faced Gezzy Price in front of a packed Welsh arena – the crowd was behind him, as you’d expect.
You get pockets of fans wherever you go." He expressed confidence that Liverpool fans would be respectful regardless of who is playing. "I hope it affects my opponents, because that might give me an easier night, but I don’t count on it. I think the crowd will be very respectful, no matter who’s on stage." The evening’s schedule in Liverpool also features Littler, who is currently second in the standings behind Clayton, opening his night against former world champion Luke Humphries. Meanwhile, van Veen will meet Price, and van Gerwen will take on Josh Rock.
Bunting sits seventh in the league, five points behind fourth‑placed van Gerwen, who occupies the final Play‑Off spot. The Premier League campaign for darts has mirrored the ups and downs of Bunting’s hometown football club, Liverpool, which is fighting for a Champions League berth amid criticism of manager Arne Slot. "The season’s been up and down, to say the least," Bunting admitted. "All these signings come in, but they haven’t gelled yet.
There have been a lot of injuries. I was a big Arne Slot fan last year when we won the league, but my opinion has shifted a bit this year. It’s boring to watch sometimes." He noted his friendships with several footballers, including boxers and the charismatic Paddy "the Baddy" – a group that often discusses football over drinks. "We’re not happy with the current situation, but if Slot stays we’ll support him fully.
Let’s just see what happens," he said. Darts chief Barry Hearn has warned players that they must become accustomed to occasional booing, as security cannot remove tens of thousands of fans from a venue.
Recent incidents have seen crowds whistling and booing, with Littler receiving a hostile reception in Rotterdam during a final and likely facing similar treatment in Liverpool. Referee Huw Ware has had to intervene twice on the Euro Tour in Germany after persistent whistling disrupted matches.
Hearn acknowledged the difficulty for players, stating to SunSport, "We have to rely on people’s common sense, and sometimes that’s absent. Eventually the crowd realizes it’s counter‑productive to the evening, but until then the players have to adapt. I don’t like it, but they’re professionals and will get used to it." He added, "You can’t throw out 12,000 people from Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam and expect to get them back quickly.
You just have to rely on a bit of common sense, even if it comes slowly." Veteran Wayne Mardle offered advice to the young Littler after his recent crowd‑related difficulties, insisting that the situation "has to stop". "I’m a believer that now it has to – whatever’s going on – the team around him has a responsibility, and he has a responsibility too," Mardle said, referring to Littler as "Hawaii 501". Mardle emphasized Littler’s age, noting that at 19 he is no longer a child and must learn to handle adversity.
"He needs to listen to friends, family and management, and they need to get it right as well. If I heard someone say ‘don’t worry about them,’ that wouldn’t be the way forward," he warned.
He reflected on past players who struggled with crowd hostility, such as Peter Manley, Paul Nicholson and Gerwyn Price, all of whom eventually changed their approach to win back fan support. "Luke Littler never set out to antagonise any crowd member, but unfortunately he’s done it a few times. He’d want it to stop.
We don’t want to see negative emotion affect a player," Mardle said. "We don’t want to see anyone look as down as Price did a couple of years ago." The article concludes by reminding readers that Luke Humphries will defend his Premier League title, with matches broadcast every Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream darts and other top sports through NOW, ensuring they never miss a moment of the high‑octane action.