Stephen Bunting claimed his second European Tour title of the year at the Swiss Darts Trophy following a convincing 8-3 victory over Luke Woodhouse in Sunday’s final.
Bunting claimed his sixth title of the season in Basel with an exemplary display against first-time finalist Woodhouse, in game which saw the Liverpudlian average almost 104.
After missing six darts at double in the opening leg, Bunting never looked back and raced into a 3-1 lead before Woodhouse stopped the rot with a hold of throw on double nine.
However, Woodhouse could not live with the world number four, who responded immediately with an 11-darter en route to a comfortable victory at St. Jakobshalle.
“There’s a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes,” said Bunting, who averaged more than 100 in all four matches on Finals Day.
“I’m playing the best darts of my life. I feel consistently that I'm delivering. I'm so happy with this win, it means a lot.
“Luke’s had a fantastic week, there’s no better time to be playing your best darts. This will give him a lot of confidence going into future tournaments.”
Bunting kicked off Sunday with a 6-3 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski, before brushing aside Dutch icon Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight.
The former Masters champion then edged a thriller with Gian van Veen in the semi-finals, surviving a match dart to break in the deciding leg after the young Dutchman fought back from 4-0 down.
“I'm number four in the world. The rankings are over a few years so it shows how consistent I’ve been, but you can’t take anything for granted in this game,” Bunting continued.
“There’s so many good players in this world and to be in the top four in the world is an unbelievable achievement.
“I can’t take my foot off the gas, I need to keep on the practice board and keep improving. Hopefully there’s a big tournament coming soon.”
Woodhouse reached only his second PDC final after a stand-out display of doubling across Sunday’s action.
After dispatching a wasteful Jermaine Wattimena, the 36-year-old profited from a missed match dart from last year’s finalist Ryan Searle in squeezing through to the semi-finals.
In the last four, Woodhouse ended Cor Dekker’s best-ever European Tour run, hitting 70 per cent of his darts at the outer ring en route to a 7-3 success over the Norwegian.
“He scored so heavily and proved why he’s where he is in the world,” reflected Woodhouse.
"He kept me under the cosh from the start and I just could not get close to him.
“It’s all positive for me now. Just getting to a final is a massive achievement and I’d have taken it at the start of the weekend.
“I’m hoping now this can be the start of something I can really push on to and take this into the ProTours and into the rest of the year.
“I’m more than capable of playing against any player. I’ve beaten all the top players. Hopefully this year, a first title comes.”
Dekker’s record run came after edging past Chris Dobey and Jonny Clayton in last-leg deciders, which included a 127 match-winning checkout against Dobey - in spite of a 107 average from the Englishman.
World Youth Champion Van Veen’s route to the semi-finals saw him see off Ryan Joyce and Rob Cross, in what was a first European Tour quarter-final of the year for Voltage.
Earlier in the day, world number one Luke Humphries lost out to Searle, while Martin Schindler’s title defence was ended by a clinical Clayton, despite a ton-plus average from the German number one.
Van Barneveld whitewashed Ritchie Edhouse in the last 16 to confirm his spot at the World Grand Prix in Leicester at the expense of Dave Chisnall, with Edhouse now unable to qualify for and defend his European Championship crown.
Following the weekend’s action in Basel, the Winamax European Tour concludes with the Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Championship (ET14) next month, where Peter Wright will aim to defend his title in Hildesheim from October 17-19.
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2025 Swiss Darts Trophy
Sunday September 28
Afternoon Session
Round Three
Ryan Searle 6-4 Luke Humphries
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Martin Schindler
Cor Dekker 6-5 Chris Dobey
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Ritchie Edhouse
Gian van Veen 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Rob Cross 6-5 Danny Noppert
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Ryan Searle
Cor Dekker 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Gian van Veen 6-2 Rob Cross
Semi-Finals
Luke Woodhouse 7-3 Cor Dekker
Stephen Bunting 7-6 Gian van Veen
Final
Stephen Bunting 8-3 Luke Woodhouse