Stephen Bunting Triumphs in Belfast as Josh Rock Produces Nine-Darter on Night Four
Stephen Bunting ended a rocky start to his Premier League campaign with a dominant night in Belfast, while josh rock delivered the tournament's first nine-darter of the year. The 40-year-old Bunting moved from zero to five points overall with a convincing run that underlined why he sits sixth in the PDC's order of merit.
Josh Rock lights up Belfast with nine-darter
Northern Ireland's Josh Rock, a 24-year-old debutant in this year's field, thrilled the home crowd by hitting the first nine-darter of the tournament. That finish also marked the 20th nine-darter in the history of the Premier League. Players who achieve a nine-darter in the Premier League are awarded a set of 18-carat gold darts.
Despite the milestone, Rock lost 6-2 in the quarter-final to Gian van Veen. The defeat was his fourth successive 6-2 loss in his debut Premier League campaign. Known as one of the biggest scorers on tour, the 24-year-old has found this Premier League more difficult to convert into wins: across the four weeks he is averaging 92. 33 and his checkout percentage stands at 29. 63% (eight from 27). Still, the nine-darter gave him a moment the home faithful celebrated and a memory he will never forget.
Stephen Bunting's Belfast surge and statistics
The 40-year-old Bunting silenced critics who had questioned his place after he failed to win a game in the first three weeks. That slow start followed a previous season in which the Bullet took nine weeks to register a point in his first involvement since being a challenger in 2020. Bunting has come off social media amid the criticism and said he has leaned on his team and new routines, including hypnotherapy on the morning of competition.
Bunting produced his highest Premier League average of 106. 63 in a 6-4 quarter-final victory over defending champion Luke Humphries. He followed that with another 106 average in a 6-0 clean sweep of current league leader Jonny Clayton in the semi-final, then closed the night with a clinical 6-2 win over Gian van Veen in the final. The run took him from zero to five points overall.
Gian van Veen and the run of near-misses
Gian van Veen, playing in the tournament for the first time, has now reached three finals in four weeks but remains unable to get over the line. His quarter-final win over Rock set up the final against Bunting, where he was beaten 6-2.
Luke Littler's early exit and current form
World number one Luke Littler suffered more disappointment, losing 6-3 to Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals. That result leaves Littler having won only one game in four weeks, a run that casts a shadow over his early Premier League form.
What this night means and what comes next
- Stephen Bunting reinforced his place in the event with a string of high averages and a night-one victory in Belfast.
- Josh Rock's nine-darter provided a career-defining moment amid continued struggles to convert scoring power into wins.
- Gian van Veen's sequence of finals shows consistency but also a recurring inability to close out title matches.
- Luke Littler's early exits highlight a worrying dip given his status as world number one.
The Premier League will continue to be broadcast live every Thursday through to the finale at The O2 in London on May 28. Recent results from Belfast reshape the mid-table picture and add momentum for players who can convert scoring into consistent match wins. Details and fixtures remain subject to the tournament schedule.
