Stephen Bunting is preparing for the World Darts Championship by practicing with World No. 1 Luke Humphries.
The Bullet won his first major tournament in 2024 when he captured the Masters in February and he’s looking to go further than his semi-final appearance in 2021.
Stephen Bunting has enlisted the help of Luke Humphries to prepare for the biggest competition in darts and he’s revealed what he’s learned from training with the World No. 1.
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Stephen Bunting reaches ‘another level’ with Luke Humphries practice
Humphries has been in stunning form in 2024, winning the World Championship, the World Matchplay, and the Players Championship Finals.
Bunting is hoping going toe-to-toe with Cool Hand will up his game ahead of the Alexandra Palace event.
Speaking to Darts Now, Bunting revealed: “We can knock ten bells out of each other on the practice board and I think it’ll help not just me.
“I think it’ll help Luke as well and obviously to have that consistent practice partner who you can take your level to another level. To be honest, I think it can only benefit us both.
The pair could meet in the quarterfinals should both men reach the last eight of the championships and Bunting claims that’s when the friendliness will stop.
The Bullet said: “We’ll be all friendly going into the Worlds but maybe not when it comes to the quarterfinals.”
Bunting faces either Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt in the second round of the World Darts Championship, while Humphries will play Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito.
Stephen Bunting could find it tough at Ally Pally
Bunting should be wary about looking ahead to the quarterfinals and Humphries as he’s been handed a tough route to the final eight.
The Bullet could face his good friend Alan Soutar in the second round, which is always difficult on the PDC Tour.
Then he could face a resurgent Dirk Van Duijvenbode in the third round after his impressive semi-final appearance at the Players Championship Finals.
Should he get through those stumbling blocks, World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker or World No. 9 Damon Heta will await in the final 16.
If Bunting is to meet his practice partner in the quarter-finals, he’s going to have to be at his supreme best at Alexandra Palace.