The Alexandra Palace crowd fell into a stunned silence, the air thick with anticipation and the faint scent of spilled beer. The chants for Stephen Bunting had faded, leaving the world number four alone with three darts and nowhere to hide. In that decisive moment, James Hurrell, ranked 63rd in the world, held his nerve to pin double top, sealing a sensational 4-3 victory and the biggest win of his career at the PDC World Championship.
A Calm Demeanor Belies a Seismic Shock
There was an air of surreal inevitability as Hurrell closed out the match. The seismic shock of the result was delivered with such immense calm by the 41-year-old from the Cotswolds that it felt strangely natural. As the crowd dispersed quietly, Hurrell packed his darts with the composure of a man who had fully expected this outcome, a stark contrast to the pre-match predictions.
His previous record offered little hint of such a performance. Despite a recent run to the last 16 of the Players Championship finals and a solid win over Dirk van Duijvenbode in the previous round, Hurrell was the clear underdog. Yet, throughout the match, he formed an impenetrable barrier against Bunting's charge. Time and again, as 'The Bullet' produced spectacular finishes—a 161 checkout to save the second set, a 121 in the third—Hurrell remained unflustered, relentlessly outscoring him on the inner ring.
Hurrell statistically dominated the world number four, posting a higher average (98 to 91) and winning 18 legs to Bunting's 12. His only irritation was that such dominance still required a final-set decider. "Should have won four-nil," he stated matter-of-factly afterwards. "I’ve got a different mindset these days. Not feeling no nerves or anything. I’m so confident in my game. I’m not going anywhere."
Resilience Forged Through Adversity
Hurrell's journey to this breakthrough has been anything but straightforward. Eight years ago, his career was put on hold for over two years after a life-saving emergency operation for a twisted bowel. The player who returned was more driven and focused, a testament to his resilience. He represents the countless talented professionals on the tour, diligently honing their craft while waiting for their moment to arrive on the biggest stage.
For Stephen Bunting, this defeat marks an ignominious end to a frustrating year. While his popular brand and electrifying walk-ons remain strong, his on-stage performances have recently shown fragility, evidenced by an emotional breakdown after his second-round win. This exit, though punctuated with moments of brilliance, lacked the consistency and conviction needed at this level. His well of miraculous finishes eventually ran dry, and with it, the belief drained from both the crowd and the player himself.
Littler Marches On as Draw Opens Up
Elsewhere on a dramatic night at Ally Pally, Luke Littler continued his formidable title defence with a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Mensur Suljovic, barely giving his opponent a look-in. Bunting's early exit significantly alters the landscape of the top half of the draw, benefiting both Littler and Jonny Clayton.
Clayton, now the only top-10 player left in his section, survived a major scare by edging past the improved Dutchman Niels Zonneveld in a deciding set. He will next face Swedish debutant Andreas Harrysson, who impressed in a 4-2 win over Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko. The 50-year-old factory worker from Målilla has become a cult hero at the tournament and now stands one win away from securing a full-time professional tour card for 2026.
James Hurrell will now play either Martin Schindler or Ryan Searle for a place in the quarter-finals. Based on his stunning victory over Bunting, he has proven he can compete with anyone in the world, announcing himself as a serious contender in this year's championship.
