Liverpool native Stephen Bunting is anticipating a hero's welcome when he competes in front of his home crowd on Thursday night. In contrast, back-to-back world champion Luke Littler may face a more hostile reception due to recent controversies, including his feud with Gian van Veen and his public comments about Liverpool's struggles this season. Bunting acknowledges that crowd reaction is beyond his control, stating, 'Fans react the way they want to react, to be honest.
We can't do anything.' He focuses on maintaining a positive demeanor and avoiding controversy, hoping to feed off the energetic crowd atmosphere when he faces Premier League leader Jonny Clayton in the quarter-final. The event promises to be an exciting night, with other notable matches including Littler against Luke Humphries, Van Veen against Gerwyn Price, and Van Gerwen against Josh Rock. Bunting currently sits seventh in the standings, five points behind fourth-placed Van Gerwen, who occupies the final Play-Off spot.
The darts world has been abuzz with discussions about crowd behavior, with Darts chief Barry Hearn advising players to adapt to booing, as security staff cannot eject tens of thousands of fans. Wayne Mardle has offered words of advice to Littler, urging him to listen to his team and management to navigate the challenges of crowd disapproval.