Bunting Breaks Through in Belfast

A night of response, resilience and raw energy. Stephen Bunting arrived in Belfast without a win from the opening three weeks of the 2026 BetMGM Premier League. He left the SSE Arena with the nightly title, £10,000 bonus and his campaign firmly alive.

Across three matches, Bunting delivered some of his sharpest Premier League darts – defeating Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton and Gian van Veen to surge up the table. On a night packed with quality, it was Josh Rock who produced perfection on home soil, striking a nine-darter that lifted the roof in Belfast.

Bunting set the standard early. A 106.63 average – his best in the Premier League, underpinned a 6-4 quarter-final win over Humphries. Clinical on the outer ring at 75%, he controlled the key moments and dictated the pace.

The semi-final was even more emphatic.

Taking on league leader Clayton, Bunting produced a 6-0 whitewash, again averaging north of 106. The scoring was heavy, the doubling precise and the response immediate whenever pressure threatened. It was a statement performance.

By the time the final arrived, confidence was visible.

2026 BetMGM Premier League

Night Four – SSE Arena, Belfast
Thursday February 26

Quarter-Finals
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Luke Littler
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Luke Humphries
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Gian van Veen 6-2 Josh Rock

Semi-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-0 Jonny Clayton
Gian van Veen 6-5 Gerwyn Price

Van Veen continued his impressive debut campaign with another final appearance. He overcame home favourite Rock, despite a stunning nine-darter and then edged past Price in a deciding-leg semi-final, averaging over 105 and showing composure in the closing exchanges.

The Final

Stephen Bunting 6-2 Gian van Veen

Bunting made the sharper start, edging in front and capitalising on missed opportunities to establish a 4-1 advantage. Van Veen threatened to respond, but the momentum never fully shifted.

Scoring remained consistent. The finishing tightened as the line approached.

A composed 13-darter closed out a 6-2 victory securing Bunting’s first nightly win since April 2025 and moving him into fifth place in the standings.

Rock’s Perfect Moment

Although his night ended in the quarter-finals, Josh Rock produced the defining highlight.

Trailing 5-1 against Van Veen, the Northern Irishman fired in back-to-back 180s before pinning double 12 for a 141 finish and a nine-dart leg. The reaction inside the SSE Arena said everything.

It was the first nine-darter of the 2026 campaign and earned Rock a custom-made set of solid gold darts worth £30,000.