Bunting beats Price to win Bahrain Masters title

Stephen Bunting was playing in his first World Series event in 11 years

Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Series title with an 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final of the Bahrain Masters.

The 39-year-old knocked out Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals and world number one Luke Humphries in the semi-finals, before comfortably defeating Welshman Price.

Earlier on Friday, Price, 39, caused a shock when he beat newly-crowned world champion Luke Littler 6-2 in the last eight.

Littler, 17, won his first senior trophy in Bahrain last year but could not match Price's performance as he averaged a tournament record 115.31.

However, it was Bunting, competing in Bahrain for the first time, who emerged victorious in the final.

He said on ITV that reaching a career-high world number five has made him "very strong".

He added: "I am playing the best I have ever played. I'm more consistent than ever before and now I'm believing I can win titles.

"The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology in the past, it's taken a lot of hard work."

The Englishman has continued to impress since winning his first televised PDC title at the Cazoo Masters in February 2024.

He reached the semi-finals of the world championship at Alexandra Palace last month, but fell short against teenage sensation Littler.

In front of a sell-out crowd in Sakhir, however, Bunting brushed aside fellow debutant Dobey 6-0, before overcoming reigning World Matchplay champion Humphries 7-6.

Price, the 2021 world champion, booked his place in the final with a 7-4 victory over Scotland's Peter Wright in the last four.

Friday's results

Quarter-finals

Luke Humphries (Eng) 6-5 Nathan Aspinall (Eng)

Stephen Bunting (Eng) 6-0 Chris Dobey (Eng)

Luke Littler (Eng) 2-6 Gerwyn Price (Wal)

Paolo Nebrida (Phi) 4-6 Peter Wright (Sco)

Semi-finals

Luke Humphries (Eng) 6-7 Stephen Bunting (Eng)

Gerwyn Price (Wal) 7-4 Peter Wright (Sco)

Final

Stephen Bunting (Eng) 8-4 Gerwyn Price (Wal)