Stephen Bunting is convinced that Luke Littler has the potential to finish his career as the greatest darts player ever, even if he never amasses as many championships as the sport’s most celebrated figure, Phil "The Power" Taylor. The 19‑year‑old prodigy was on the verge of an unprecedented clean sweep of the 2026 ranking calendar before a stunning defeat at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam derailed his quest. Having secured the first six premier titles of the season – the World Championship at Alexandra Palace in January, followed by the World Masters, the UK Open, the Premier League, the World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay – Littler entered the World Series Finals with a perfect record.
A victory there would have set him up for an extraordinary run that also included the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship Finals, a sequence that would have given him an almost mythical monopoly over a single year’s major trophies. Instead, the quarter‑final loss to Jonny Clayton forced Littler to settle for a near‑miss. Yet, rather than diminishing his reputation, the setback sparked a wave of speculation among pundits and former champions. Bunting, a 41‑year‑old veteran of the circuit, told Sky Sports News that he truly believes Littler could end up being the greatest player the game has ever seen.
"I do," he said. "He still has a lot more to give the sport." Bunting was careful to distinguish between overall greatness and sheer title count. While he expects Littler to capture numerous world titles, he does not think the young Englishman will eclipse Taylor’s record of sixteen World Championships.
"The standard of play is a lot better than in Phil's day," Bunting explained. "Phil dominated, but the game has evolved." He also highlighted Littler’s cultural impact.
"Luke has lowered the age demographic of darts dramatically. If you ask anyone who a darts player is, they’ll name Luke Littler. That’s the power of his brand." When pressed about who truly deserves the title of "best ever," Bunting deferred to the two athletes themselves.
"Based on his ceiling, Luke is the best player in the world right now. Phil won 16 world titles – you can’t take that away. If Phil says he’s the best, I’ll respect that. I’d be happy to win one or two world titles myself, but Luke is already smashing records." Bunting also praised Littler’s recent form, noting another European Tour win and describing him as "pretty unstoppable" while acknowledging that other high‑potential rivals remain in the mix.
The unpredictable nature of darts means that any given day can produce a surprise result. During an appearance on the Love The Darts podcast, Bunting addressed the booing and whistling Littler endured at the World Series Finals.
He described the experience as distracting and unpleasant, but emphasized that such incidents represent a minority of fans. "A loud whistle really does throw you off," he said. "It’s not nice, and it’s off‑putting when you’re aiming for a double." Looking ahead, Bunting himself will compete at the World Grand Prix in Leicester, hoping to improve on his two previous semi‑final appearances. He expressed confidence that a strong run of form in the upcoming tournaments could propel him to the title.
"The Grand Prix is a double‑out format, I love hitting my doubles. It’s a great event and Sky Sports does a brilliant job covering it. I want to put on a good show for the fans and take the trophy," he said. Fans at the Mattioli Arena can also expect an exciting walk‑on as Bunting steps to his new entrance music, "Titanium." The track holds personal significance for him – it’s his son’s favourite song – and replaces his previous, more novelty‑styled choices.
"It’s one of the greatest walk‑on songs in my opinion. When the crowd sings back, it lifts me and takes the pressure off," he explained. He likened the audience’s support to a "12th man," noting how crucial that energy is to his performance.
In addition to his on‑stage ambitions, Bunting is promoting his forthcoming autobiography, "Bulletproof," a title that nods to both the lyrics of "Titanium" and his own nickname. He opened up about the darker periods of his life, including a gambling addiction that threatened his career.
"The ‘people’s champion’ controversy was taken out of context and dragged me into a rough patch," he admitted. "I was locking myself away, gambling on my phone – a horrible place to be. A sports psychologist and hypnotist helped me reframe the experience and move forward." Bunting hopes that sharing his story will help others facing similar struggles. "If even one person can find a way out because of this book, it will be worth it," he said.
He also thanked his family, team and fans for supporting him through the low moments, emphasizing that their encouragement was vital to his recovery. The article concludes with resources for readers who may be dealing with gambling or mental‑health issues, directing them to Sky’s support services. It also reminds fans that Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts, with live coverage of the World Grand Prix (Sept 28‑Oct 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (Nov 14‑22) and the World Darts Championship (Dec 10‑Jan 3) available via the NOW streaming platform without a contract.