NIGHT 10, PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS – In one of the most bizarre post-match outbursts in Premier League history, Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler launched an extraordinary tirade after falling to a 6-4 defeat against Stephen Bunting last night, claiming his opponent “must have cast a spell” to knock him off his game.
The 19-year-old sensation entered the match, having dominated the league phase with a series of high-scoring checkouts. But from the opening leg, Littler appeared uncharacteristically erratic, missing six clear darts at double 16 and twice hitting single 1 when attempting to set up a 141 checkout.
Bunting, known for his walk-on to ‘Freed from Desire’ but rarely accused of sorcery, played a composed match, taking out a clinical 116 finish in the decisive tenth leg. After the final double 10 sank, Bunting raised a finger to his temple—a gesture Littler later described as “the final hex.”
“I’m not joking. Something wasn’t right from the moment I stepped on stage,” Littler fumed backstage, his face flushed. “My hand felt heavy. The treble 20 looked blurry. Every time I looked up, he was muttering something under his breath. That’s not darts—that’s witchcraft. He’s cast a spell on me.”
When asked to clarify, Littler doubled down. “Check the footage. Every time I pulled the dart back, he did that little finger wiggle. I’ve played badly before, but I’ve never felt my arm go numb on a match dart. It’s a disgrace. The PDC needs to test his chalk or something.”
Bunting, visibly amused by the accusations in his own interview, laughed off the claims. “Luke’s a fantastic player, but tonight he just couldn’t find the double. Maybe the only magic was me hitting my targets when it mattered. No spells—just practice.”
Social media erupted within minutes. The hashtag #BuntingTheWizard began trending, with fans sharing edited clips of Bunting in a wizard’s hat. However, some former pros were less entertained. Wayne Mardle, speaking on Sky Sports, called Littler’s comments “unfortunate.”
“You can’t blame black magic for missing six darts at double 16,” Mardle said. “He’s young, he’s emotional, but that’s a bad look. Bunting outplayed him. Plain and simple.”
The defeat leaves Littler third in the Night 10 standings, while Bunting climbs to fourth. The PDC has confirmed it will not be launching an investigation into “occult practices,” but a spokesperson joked that “all players are reminded that eye of newt is not a listed supplement on the anti-doping code.”
Littler stormed out of the venue without signing autographs—a rarity for the usually fan-friendly teen. As he left, he was heard telling a security guard: “Just wait ‘til I play him in a venue with no mirrors. Let’s see how good his spells are then.”
