Bahrain Masters: Stephen Bunting beats Gerwyn Price to seal maiden World Series title
Stephen Bunting won his first World Series title with an 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in the Bahrain Masters final.
The 39-year-old eliminated Chris Dobie in the quarter-finals and world number one Luke Humphries in the semi-finals before comfortably defeating Welshman Price.
Price, 39, caused shock when he beat newly crowned world champion Luke Littler 6-2 in the quarter-finals earlier on Friday.
Littler, 17, won Bahrain’s first senior trophy last year, but couldn’t match Price’s performance, averaging 115.31.
However, the winner in the final was Bunting, who was competing in Bahrain for the first time.
He told ITV that reaching a career-high world ranking of fifth made him “very strong”.
He added: “I’m playing my best game ever. I’m more consistent than ever and now I believe I can win the title.
“The behind-the-scenes hypnotherapy and psychology in the past took a lot of effort.”
The Englishman continues to impress since winning the title First televised PDC title At the Cazoo Masters in February 2024.
He reached the semi-finals of the world championships at Alexandra Palace last month but lost to teenage starlet Littler.
However, in front of a sold-out crowd at Sakhir, Bunting beat debutant Dobby 6-0 and then defeated reigning Matchplay champion Humphries 7-6.
Price, the 2021 world champion, defeated Scotland’s Peter Wright 7-4 in the semi-finals to secure a spot in the final.
