Stephen Bunting has ignited a firestorm in the darts world after launching a petition against the New Zealand Darts Masters, which has already amassed over 2,000 signatures within just 24 hours . The move comes in the wake of a controversial early exit from the tournament that has left fans questioning the event’s integrity.
Bunting’s petition campaign follows his shock 6-2 defeat to Australian qualifier Raymond Smith in the first round at Auckland’s Spark Arena . Despite entering as the third seed, Bunting was dismantled by an inspired Smith, who posted a stunning 99.81 average and finished with a sensational 124 checkout .
However, the nature of the petition remains unclear. While no official statement has been released by the Bunting camp, speculation is rife that the petition addresses the absence of the sport’s biggest names. The tournament notably lacks defending champions Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen . Littler opted to skip the event for a holiday in Orlando, citing the “mental” time zone difference and grueling travel demands . Van Gerwen’s reasons for absence remain unconfirmed .
This controversy comes at a frustrating time for the 40-year-old Bunting. Widely considered one of the most popular players on the tour, he has seen his form dip, recently admitting he is “coming to the end” of his career while fighting to maintain his rankings position .
The darts community has rallied behind Bunting, pushing the petition past the 2,000-signature milestone in record time . With the petition now gaining significant momentum, it is expected to put pressure on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and tournament organizers, potentially leading to changes in the World Series format.
This is a developing story.