It’s double 2025 Euro Tour delight for Stephen Bunting, who beat fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse 8–3 in the Swiss Darts Trophy final.
The Bullet is starting to look like a darting Noah, loading up his St Helens ark with two of everything this season – twice champ on World Series duty, a brace of Players Championships, and now a second Euro Tour title to sit alongside his International Darts Open trophy from April.There’s even a bit of trivia attached:
Bunting is the first Englishman to win a Euro Tour event on Swiss soil. Of course, given Switzerland only staged its first one last year (won by Martin Schindler), it’s not exactly conquering Everest, but a record is a record.
His Sunday began by clipping the wings of Krzysztof Ratajski, who’s already a two-time Euro Tour winner himself. The Pole played well, but Bunting blitzed into a 5–1 lead and never looked back, sealing a 6–3 win.
Then came Raymond van Barneveld, backed by the Barney Army in Basel. Unfortunately, the Dutch legend brought little more than tired legs and a low-80s average, which was never going to trouble Bunting, who was once again cruising above the ton.Next up was Gian van Veen, and this one lived up to the billing.
The young Dutch star averaged a shade higher, nailed over half his doubles, and pushed Bunting all the way. But a 4–0 head start for The Bullet proved decisive – those early rockets left Van Veen chasing shadows. He fought back valiantly, but when the chance finally came, Bunting held firm and nicked it by breaking throw at the death.
All of which set up a final against Luke Woodhouse, enjoying the best Euro Tour run of his career after scalping Wattimena, Searle and Dekker to reach a maiden final. Woody played well – in fact, on most days his display would have been enough for the trophy.
But Bunting saved his best until last, combining relentless scoring with ruthless finishing. At 3–2 up, he hit the accelerator and left Woodhouse in the rear-view mirror, racing to the title.
No nine-darters for the Basel crowd – Michael van Gerwen still holds the only Euro Tour perfect leg of the season – but plenty of quality.
Woodhouse leaves with £12,000, a runners-up trophy, and the highest average of the tournament: 110-plus against Dave Chisnall. Not a bad weekend’s work.
For Bunting, though, it’s another marker in what is fast becoming one of the best years of his career. The Bullet’s firing, and Europe’s feeling it. The only negative he can take from the weekend is his beloved Liverpool FC going down 2-1 at Crystal Palace. Still, that won’t affect his ever increasing bank balance.
Quarter-Finals
Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Ryan Searle
Cor Dekker 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Gian van Veen 6-2 Rob Cross
Semi-Finals
Luke Woodhouse 7-3 Cor Dekker
Stephen Bunting 7-6 Gian van Veen
Final
Stephen Bunting 8-3 Luke Woodhouse
—–Ends—–
Images: Jan Thoden/PDC Europe
