Stephen Bunting

Stephen Bunting's rapid rise up the rankings earned him a wildcard in this year’s Premier League.

The St Helens thrower moved to the PDC last year after winning the BDO world title in January, and he made an impressive start in his new surroundings.

Bunting won a UK Open Qualifier and reached the last-four of the German Darts Masters, and his second final appearance of the year came at the 10th Players Championship, where he was defeated by Terry Jenkins.

The 29-year-old defeated 2014 World Championship finalist Peter Wright at the World Matchplay, and he progressed to the semi-finals at the World Grand Prix in Dublin.

Bunting’s burning desire to face the sport’s biggest stars was behind his decision to join the PDC, and he defeated the greatest player of all time – Phil Taylor – at the European Championship, averaging over 102.

Having beaten James Wade at the Grand Slam of Darts, Bunting repeated the trick at the World Championship, winning 4-1 in their second round match. And he overcame fellow St Helens native Michael Smith to set up a quarter-final tie with Raymond van Barneveld.

Barney edged a titanic tussle 5-4, with the players registering almost identical averages, and Bunting was reduced to tears by the praise he received from his opponent.

Bunting’s hopes of a Premier League wildcard were granted when Barry Hearn revealed the line-up following Gary Anderson’s World Championship win, and he cannot wait for round three when he faces Taylor in his Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

“I always said when they invented the Premier League that I would love to play in front of all of the fans from Liverpool and I don’t think anything is going to eclipse that for me,” he said.

“It’s going to be bigger than a world championship final, playing in front of all my fans in Liverpool. It’s going to be an electric crowd. I’m really looking forward to it.”