Stephen Bunting, a former Lakeside Champion, credits professional sports psychology and hypnosis for a dramatic turnaround in his darts career, a practice he continues today. This mental edge, he reveals, is crucial for competing at the highest level, especially as darts expands globally, evidenced by the enthusiastic crowds at events like the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden. Bunting emphasizes that mastering the mind is as vital as mastering the throw, helping him achieve peak performance and even win major titles during challenging times.
Darts Takes On New York: The US Darts Masters
The world of darts recently descended upon the iconic Madison Square Garden for the US Darts Masters, featuring an elite lineup of players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Josh Rock, and of course, Stephen Bunting. Bunting, known as “The Bullet,” kicked off his campaign with a decisive win against American representative Alex Spellman on this grand stage.
While global attention often shifts to major events like the FIFA World Cup, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) continues its mission to expand the sport’s reach. By bringing its top stars across the Atlantic, the PDC aims to cultivate new fan bases beyond darts’ traditional strongholds.
The Growing Appeal of Darts in America
For Bunting, the New York event is more than just another stop on the World Series tour. He sees the fervent enthusiasm of American supporters as clear proof of darts’ increasing popularity. Reflecting on last year’s experience, Bunting shared his excitement:
- “It was great to be a part of it, and playing in Madison Square Garden is truly a dream come true. It’s such an iconic venue.”
- He noted the unique “zig-zag walk-on” and the absence of barriers, which differed from UK events but added to the excitement.
- “The crowd certainly got behind it. They were all bouncing up and down when the 180s were going in and when the doubles were being hit, which is great.”
This global showcase is vital for players like Bunting. He believes it’s crucial to “show our skills across the globe,” and performing in a world-class city like New York is “amazing for us as players.”
The Power of the Mind: Bunting’s Psychological Edge
In modern professional darts, the mental game is as critical as physical skill. Stephen Bunting openly discusses the significant psychological pressures faced by elite players, revealing that meticulous mental preparation is now a core component of sustained success.
The “walk-on,” for instance, is more than just an entrance. Bunting explains:
“The walk-on is so important now because it gets the crowd up on their feet, singing your walk-on song and getting behind you. Then you get on stage and you’ve got to recompose yourself and start playing darts. It’s a very mental game. When you’re up there, you’re the only one who can control everything that goes on. You can’t control how your opponent is going to play.”
To gain that crucial advantage, Bunting continues to work closely with both a hypnotist and sports psychologists. His goal is to “get the best out of my game and find that extra percentage to be able to compete with these guys.”
A Career Transformed: The Impact of Professional Support
Bunting candidly admits that seeking professional psychological support was a game-changer, particularly during one of the most challenging periods of his career. He recounts hitting a low point:
“A few years ago I was down on form and I was going home, taking it out on my family and locking myself away. I needed to change some things.”
The intervention proved transformative:
- “Seeing a hypnotist got me thinking really positively, which was unbelievable. He changed my career, to be honest.”
- This process involved a lot of visualization, imagining himself lifting trophies and achieving success.
The results were almost immediate. “Two weeks after starting with him, I went on to win the Masters,” Bunting proudly states. This isn’t an isolated success story for his hypnotist, who has a proven track record with other top athletes:
- He worked with Kyren Wilson before Wilson won the World Snooker Championship.
- He also supported Tom Aspinall prior to Aspinall becoming UFC heavyweight champion.
The US Darts Masters Finale
The US Darts Masters concluded with its quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final held on Friday evening, played before a passionate, sell-out crowd of 5,000 fans – a new record for darts attendance in the United States. This monumental event underscores the sport’s burgeoning global footprint and the critical role mental preparation plays at its highest echelons.
For those interested in following future darts events, the 2026 bet365 US Darts Masters will be broadcast live on ESPN and FanDuel in the US, with DAZN offering exclusive coverage in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Other global coverage is provided through various platforms, including Viaplay in territories like the Netherlands, and via PDCTV worldwide. Delayed coverage is typically available on ITV3 in the UK.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
