Stephen Bunting in hysterics after bizarre mishap vs world No1 Luke Humphries before going on to win Bahrain Masters

STEPHEN BUNTING won the Bahrain Masters – but it came at the expense of one of his darts.

The Bullet saw off World No.1 Luke Humphries 7-6 in a gripping semi-final on Friday evening.

AP

Stephen Bunting booked his place in the Bahrain Masters final by beating Luke Humphries[/caption]

ITV

The 39-year-old was forced to change his darts in the second leg of the contest[/caption]

ITV

Bunting managed to throw a dart so perfect it split the stem on an arrow resting in the treble 20[/caption]

Bunting was in scintillating form as he saw off Cool Hand Luke, throwing a three-dart average of 99.96.

The 39-year-old trailed 6-4, but rattled off three legs in a row to knock out the pre-tournament favourite.

But it was a moment in the second leg that had darts fans – and the players – in hysterics.

Bunting landed his first two darts in the treble 20 as he looked to set up a checkout.

His third looked destined to do the same – only for his arrow to pierce directly through the stem of another lying the T20.

Bunting and Humphries both burst out laughing, with the Bullet forced to bring out his backup set.

One fan laughed on X: “How has he even managed that?!”

Another said: “That was one hell of a steal from Bunting. Fair play.”

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While a third added: “2025 is the year of the Bunting, he’s winning the lot.”

Bunting hit 50 per cent on his doubles in the win and five 180s.

He went on to meet Gerwyn Price in the final, who himself had stunned reigning world champion Luke Littler in the quarter-finals.

Bunting emerged the 7-4 victor to win the tournament.

Bunting, the reigning PDC Masters champion, believes he is currently playing the best darts of his career after reaching the semi-finals at the World Championship earlier this month.

Bunting said: “I’m riding the crest of a wave at the minute.

“I feel like I’m playing the best darts of my life.

“So I need to keep doing what I’m doing and keep trying to improve.”