'You do feel like a pop star' - Stephen Bunting on his viral walk-on

Stephen "The Bullet" Bunting, the accomplished darts player, has experienced a remarkable journey in his career. Growing up, his passion for the sport was ignited by watching his father play at a local pub. At around 12 or 13 years old, Bunting began sneaking around and watching games with a bag of crisps and a fizzy orange by his side.

Nearly three decades later, Bunting has become a father himself, and his elder son now enjoys watching his father compete in sold-out arenas across the country. Despite the crowd size, Bunting feels his son's encouragement in the background, cheering and supporting him during matches.

One of Bunting's signature routines before his matches is a walk-on performance featuring David Guetta and Sia's hit "Titanium." This unique pre-match ritual often goes viral on social media platforms and always manages to captivate the audience, who join in singing along to the song. Bunting admits, "You do feel like a pop star."

Bunting's career highlights include winning over 30 regional and national titles and competing in the British Dart Organisation's World Championship at the age of 18. As the sport has evolved, Bunting has witnessed a shift in the crowd's behavior and atmosphere. In his early days, matches were more subdued, with people in the front row knitting. Today, the environment is vibrant and energetic, with fans enjoying the game and throwing beers in the air.

Bunting's life story has even been turned into a book titled "Bulletproof: From Pub to Palace, My Life in Darts." This achievement is a dream come true for the player, who never imagined he would have a book published during his early years in the sport.