Bunting beats Price to win Bahrain Masters title

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.

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)