STEPHEN Bunting has won the Masters beating Michael van Gerwen 11-7 in the final in Milton Keynes.
Ten years on from his famous BDO Lakeside victory, his family emotionally watched on, with those emotions being shared on the stage with the man from Liverpool forced to wipe away tears while collecting his trophy.
Bunting has claimed the Masters title, beating Ross Smith, World Champion Luke Humphries, Peter Wright and defending Masters champion Nathan Aspinall en route to the final.
This was Bunting’s first major PDC TV final, and Bunting stopped van Gerwen from winning his 67th Televised title.
This victory avenges his comprehensive 4-0 set defeat to the Dutchman in the 2023 World Championships, and the Quarter-final collapse at the Players Championships.
Speaking to ITV’s Dan Dawson following his victory, Bunting said: “I promised myself I was not going to cry on the tele, but I am lost for words.”
“The form is really good, this is a great start to the season and I hope I can push on”
“I really deserve this trophy, I’ve beaten players who play in the Premier League, and that is the level that I want to get to”.
The pivotal moment of the match likely came, when Bunting broke van Gerwen’s throw, with an 88 checkout to complete an 11 darter in the eighth leg.
Bunting lead by six legs to four going into the second break, but van Gerwen broke and then held throw to level the final at six legs a piece.
With three subsequent holds of throw, Bunting went into the third and final break with a narrow one leg lead, in a straight race to the line.
Being faster out of the traps Bunting won the final three legs to check out on 40, and claim the XXX prize as well as the first PDC major of his career .
van Gerwen will travel to Berlin later this week to compete in night two of the Premier League, facing Nathan Aspinall.
