LONDON – The world of professional darts has been plunged into unprecedented controversy following explosive allegations from veteran star Stephen Bunting, who has publicly accused newly-crowned world champion Luke Littler of “cheating his way to victory” at the recent PDC World Darts Championship.
The claims, made via a since-deleted but widely-captured social media post last night, have sent shockwaves through the sport, threatening to overshadow Littler’s fairytale rise from teenage qualifier to world champion.
Bunting’s accusation appears to center not on match-fixing or equipment tampering, but on what he describes as a “systematic and deliberate manipulation of the pace of play” throughout the tournament. In a follow-up statement to press, Bunting’s management team elaborated, alleging Littler engaged in “gamesmanship of the highest order,” specifically by violating the PDC’s rule on “dart retrieval” to disrupt opponents’ rhythm.
“The rule is clear,” Bunting stated in his original post. “You retrieve your darts only after your opponent has finished marking the score. What he [Littler] was doing, match after match, was walking up to the board during his opponent’s turn, under the guise of checking scores or loosening his darts. It’s a deliberate tactic to break concentration, and the referees let it go because of the hype around him. It’s cheating, pure and simple. That title is tainted.”
The PDC issued a swift response this morning, stating, “The PDC takes all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously. Our officials adjudicate all matches according to the strict rules of the sport. We have seen no evidence to support any allegation of cheating during the 2024 World Championship. We have reached out to Stephen Bunting and his representatives to discuss his comments.”
Luke Littler’s camp has forcefully denied the allegations. His manager, Martin Foulds, told reporters, “These claims are absurd, baseless, and profoundly damaging. Luke Littler won the world championship through sheer talent, incredible nerve, and brilliant darts. He has the utmost respect for the game and its rules. This appears to be sour grapes of the highest magnitude from a player who was soundly beaten in the quarter-finals. We are considering our legal options.”
The darts community has reacted with a mix of astonishment and division. Several players have come to Littler’s defense on social media, calling Bunting’s comments “bitter” and “out of order.” However, a few anonymous players have suggested to news outlets that Littler’s “pace and routine” were a “topic of discussion in the player’s lounge” during the tournament.
Sports ethicist Dr. Anya Sharma commented, “This strikes at the heart of sportsmanship. If Bunting’s specific technical claim is proven false, it’s a dangerous smear. If there is any ambiguity in how the rule was applied, it raises questions about consistency of officiating under pressure. The PDC must conduct a transparent review to clear the air.”
The controversy mars what had been a celebrated moment for darts, as Littler’s victory captured the imagination of the sporting world. For now, the 17-year-old’s historic achievement is under a cloud, with the sport facing a bitter and public civil war.
Bunting is yet to make any further public comment following the PDC’s statement. The darts world now awaits the next move in a scandal that has thrown the oche into turmoil.