Stephen Bunting says ‘megastar’ Luke Littler has taken darts to ‘another level’

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former world champion Stephen Bunting has credited “megastar” Luke Littler with lifting darts to new heights as he prepares for the start of another raucous PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace later this month. It just shows how Luke’s success is bringing the demographic of darts fans down.” Such is the sport’s current popularity – last year’s final, in which Littler was pipped by Luke Humphries, was the most watched non-football event in Sky Sports history – it has even been afforded the honour of a Panini trading card set. “It’s surreal that darts has its own set now, and I’ll certainly be trying to get the Luke Littler one because that could be worth a bit of money in a few years’ time.” Bunting goes into this year’s tournament as a live contender after winning The Masters in Milton Keynes last February, although he could run into defending champion Humphries in the quarter-final. We were already up there for viewing figures behind Premier League football, but it is now at another level Stephen Bunting on Luke Littler A long-time favourite of the Ally Pally crowd, the St Helens-born star cautioned against suggestions by the sport’s supremo Barry Hearn of a future move away from the venue which has hosted every World Championship since 2008.