In a move that has sent shockwaves through the world of professional darts, former BDO World Champion Stephen Bunting has announced his immediate retirement from the sport, citing a devastating and irreversible physical decline.
The emotional announcement came via a sombrely filmed video posted to the 38-year-old’s social media channels this morning. Sitting in his home practice room, surrounded by trophies and memorabilia from a glittering career, “The Bullet” delivered the news that left fans and fellow professionals stunned.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to tell you all that my time as a professional dart player is over,” Bunting began, his voice thick with emotion. “This isn’t a decision I ever wanted to make, but it’s one that has been taken out of my hands. Quite literally.”
He then revealed the crux of the issue, pointing to a condition that has been stealthily eroding his ability to perform. “For the last 18 months, I’ve been battling severe and chronic arthritis, combined with nerve damage in my wrists and fingers. I’ve tried every treatment, every physio, every specialist. But the simple, painful truth is this: my hands are no longer strong. They are no longer reliable. The connection between my mind, which knows what to do, and my hands, which can no longer execute it, is broken.”
Bunting described the agony of watching his trademark consistency and fluid throwing action desert him. “You prepare your whole life for the pressure of a match dart. But now, the pressure of simply holding the dart, of releasing it with any kind of conviction, has become unbearable. The pain is constant, but worse is the frustration. The dart doesn’t go where I tell it to anymore.”
The St. Helens native enjoyed a storied career. He dominated the BDO circuit, culminating in a Lakeside World Championship victory in 2014. His switch to the PDC saw him claim multiple titles and cement himself as a perennial top-16 contender, known for his explosive scoring and clinical finishing. His retirement leaves a significant void in the sport.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) released a statement praising Bunting as “a consummate professional and a wonderful ambassador for darts, whose talent and sportsmanship will be greatly missed on our tour.”
Tributes have poured in from across the darting world. Long-time rival and friend Michael van Gerwen posted: “Devastated for you, Stephen. A true champion and a fighter until the end. The oche won’t be the same without you.”
Bunting insisted he will remain in the sport he loves, hinting at potential roles in coaching, commentary, or ambassadorial work. “Darts is my life. Just because I can’t throw at the highest level anymore doesn’t mean I’m walking away from the game. I have so much knowledge and passion to give back.”
He ended his announcement with a message of gratitude. “Thank you to every single fan who ever cheered my name. You made the journey incredible. This isn’t the ending I dreamed of, but I leave with my head held high, knowing I gave everything I had—until my hands could give no more.”
The darts world is now left to mourn the premature departure of one of its most likeable and skilled stars, a champion forced to lay down his arrows by a foe no amount of treble 20s could defeat.