Gerwyn Price denies Stephen Bunting to claim Poland Darts Masters crown

Gerwyn Price claimed glory at the Poland Darts Masters in Gliwice courtesy of a deciding-leg success over Stephen Bunting in the final on Saturday.

Price – roared on by a 9,000 strong crowd at the PreZero Arena – averaged 103 to edge out Bunting in a compelling last-leg decider.

The Welshman overturned a 4-2 deficit to clinch his sixth World Series title, having also produced ton-plus averages in earlier wins over Chris Dobey and Rob Cross.

Saturday’s showpiece was a repeat of January’s Bahrain Masters final, but there was a different outcome this time around as Price pocketed the £30,000 top prize.

Bunting seized the early initiative, defying a spectacular 137 finish from Price with successive 96 and 68 checkouts to establish a 4-2 lead.

Price responded by winning five of the next six legs to move 7-5 up, though the pendulum swung once more when he squandered three match darts in the penultimate leg.

Bunting duly profited to force a decider in which he left himself on tops after 12 darts, but a magical 91 checkout from Price – rounded off with a double 17 and tops – saw him seal the deal in style.

“To go double-double in that final leg with Stephen sat on a double was fantastic. I’m over the moon,” reflected Price.

“I felt like I was missing opportunities and Stephen was taking advantage.

“I was getting frustrated with myself and to go into the break 4-2 down, I was disappointed, but I stuck in there until the end.”

Price arrived in Gliwice without his suitcase, but he believes that may have been a positive omen as he prepares to depart with more big stage silverware.

“A couple of years ago I went to Ireland, I lost my suitcase and had to change my darts, change my clothes, change my shoes,” he added.

“I went on and won the Grand Slam and the rest is history!

“I’ve lost my case this weekend, so it’s been new darts, new shoes, new clothes and a new me, so here we go!”

Price kicked off his campaign with a 6-3 win over Polish youngster Sebastian Bialecki on Friday night, and he continued his title challenge with a commanding 6-2 win over Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals.

The Welshman averaged 104 to defeat the former Masters champion, before reeling off seven of the last eight legs to surge past 2024 runner-up Rob Cross 7-3 in the semi-finals.

Bunting, meanwhile, overcame Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski and reigning champion Luke Littler to progress to a fourth World Series final of the year.

The 40-year-old converted a sensational 150 checkout to complete a deciding-leg victory over Ratajski, while he dispatched Littler 7-3 following a superb semi-final display.

Bunting was aiming to join Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor in claiming a hat-trick of World Series titles in the same calendar year, although he was ultimately denied in that quest by a moment of magic.

“I’ve really enjoyed this weekend,” said Bunting. “You cannot give Gezzy opportunities, because he’s absolutely class.

“That double-double finish – I just said to him: ‘that was unbelievable’. It was a great ending to a brilliant game.”

Littler’s bid for back-to-back titles in Gliwice was curtailed by a clinical Bunting, though he did produce a 170 checkout in each of his matches against Bunting and Nathan Aspinall, having averaged 104.8 to defeat Aspinall 6-3 in a high-quality quarter-final.

The evening’s other quarter-final tie saw Cross prevail 6-4 against 2023 champion Michael van Gerwen – who was punished for a poor display of finishing.

Poland Darts Masters 2025 Day Two Results

Saturday July 5

Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
Nathan Aspinall 3-6 Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Chris Dobey
Rob Cross 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

Semi-Finals
Stephen Bunting 7-3 Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price 7-3 Rob Cross

Final
Gerwyn Price 8-7 Stephen Bunting