Stephen Bunting Called Out by James Hurrell for World Championship Moment
James Hurrell has revealed he felt compelled to call out Stephen Bunting over a moment during their shock World Darts Championship clash at Alexandra Palace.
Hurrell, ranked world number 63 going into the tournament, stunned Ally Pally by knocking out fourth seed Bunting in a dramatic encounter that ranks among the biggest upsets of this year’s championship. The English underdog kept his composure in a tense deciding set to seal a famous victory and book his place in the next round.
However, speaking after the match, Hurrell suggested there was an incident during the game that stuck with him and added extra motivation.
“I felt like there was a moment where he maybe thought the job was already done,” Hurrell explained. “That gave me a bit more fire. I just told myself to keep going and prove I belonged up there.”
Hurrell stopped short of accusing Bunting of outright gamesmanship, but hinted that his opponent’s body language and reactions on stage spurred him on during key moments of the contest.
Bunting, a former semi-finalist at Ally Pally and one of the sport’s most popular figures, cut a frustrated figure as the match slipped away. Despite flashes of his best form, he was unable to shake off Hurrell’s persistence and admitted afterwards that he failed to reach the standard required on the night.
Hurrell, meanwhile, described the win as the biggest of his career and said standing up to a player of Bunting’s stature made the moment even more special.
“He’s achieved so much in the game,” Hurrell added. “But once you’re on that stage, it’s just two players throwing darts. I backed myself and it paid off.”
The result not only ended Bunting’s hopes of a deep run but also opened up that section of the draw, underlining once again how unforgiving the World Darts Championship can be.
As for Hurrell, he now moves on with confidence soaring, knowing he has already produced one of the standout moments of the tournament — and isn’t afraid to speak his mind about what drove him to do it.
