The Reigning Master’s Champion’s Narrow Defeat at the Baltic Sea Darts Open
Stephen Bunting, the reigning Masters champion, had high hopes of capturing the title at the recent Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel, Germany. However, his campaign was cut short in the third round by eventual winner Rob Cross.
Bunting had started the Euro Tour event impressively, securing a comfortable 6-3 victory over Andy Baetens in the opening round. But in the last sixteen, the Bullet faced a tough challenge against the in-form Cross, narrowly losing 6-5 in a thrilling encounter.
“To be honest, I didn’t do much wrong there. We both played extremely well, and our finishing was very good too,” Bunting reflected on his defeat the day after his elimination. With both players averaging over 100, the match could have gone either way, as Bunting acknowledged, “Who knows what would have happened if I had won the bull-up. Guess we will never know, but I can’t complain about the way I played.”
Despite the disappointment, Bunting remains confident in his game, having reached the semifinals at the Euro Tour events in Riesa and Graz earlier this season. The former Lakeside champion is still chasing his elusive first Euro Tour title, having previously lost finals in 2019 and 2023.
“Of course, I am always disappointed to return home from another European Tour event still without that maiden win. But like I always say, as long as I’m getting to the business end of tournaments, I am always in with a shot,” Bunting said.
Bunting’s strong form this season has left him feeling optimistic about his chances of breaking through for that first Euro Tour title soon. “My game has never been in a better place, so hopefully, that will be rewarded with more titles over the coming months,” he concluded.
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