Stephen Bunting believes he could feature at this year’s World Cup of Darts if Luke Littler decides to pull out of the tournament. England are the defending champions after Luke Humphries and Michael Smith beat Austria in the 2024 final.
Humphries is set to be partnered by Littler this year, but the reigning world champion has cast doubt on his involvement with a cryptic social media post. The World Cup is due to take place on June 12 in Frankfurt and Littler has suggested he will not be returning to Germany until the European Tour finale in Dortmund in October.
In a post on Instagram after losing to Gian van Veen in the semi-finals of the German Darts Grand Prix, Littler wrote: “Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway, next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.”
Littler has been repeatedly booed by German crowds and Bunting has now said he is ready to replace the teenager if he does decide to skip the World Cup.
“He’s put a few posts on socials about not going back to Germany,” Bunting said. “Well, if he doesn’t go back to Germany, that means I’m in the World Cup, doesn’t it?”
Bunting also sent a warning to Littler ahead of night 12 of the Premier League Darts in Liverpool, with the Manchester United fan expected to face a hostile crowd reception. “It doesn’t really bother me – as long as they are supporting me, I couldn’t give a carrot about anyone else,” Bunting added.
” Football rivalries will always be part of the sport, one way or another, but it’s a dangerous path to go down. Last year, I was there as a fan and he (Littler) was mocking us (Liverpool) for getting beat 2-0 by Everton, and I don’t think people forget stuff like that.
“I would imagine he’s going to get a few boos from a Liverpool crowd and, with how fragile he is at the minute after his experience in Germany, I don’t think he likes it – but sometimes you can bring it on yourself.
“It’s not only football rivalries that make people boo or cheer for their favourites, but you don’t want to get the fans hating on you. It’s been like that for quite a few years, ever since I joined the PDC, to be fair, but I don’t think it’s just Liverpool fans with me – I felt the crowd support in Germany, Holland, Scotland, Wales, where I’ve played.
“I’m just a normal person who tries to give something back to the fans, whether it’s on TikTok or YouTube, but it’s not all about Liverpool tomorrow night. There will be fans who support me as a dart player, not because I support Liverpool.”
And Bunting’s comments come after Littler admitted he had struggled with the boos in Germany. “I just don’t get it, and I can’t explain it,” Littler said after the Premier League Darts in Berlin earlier this month.
“Obviously, you do your walk-on, but then as soon as I got on stage, I started getting booed. I got booed in Hildesheim last year against Peter Wright on the European Tour. I was flying and then they started booing me and I lost. It’s something we’ve all got to deal with.”
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