Luke Humphries vs Stephen Bunting (Premier League Darts): odds and bets 14.05.2026

This is the sort of Premier League match I tend to rate as “high standard, high swing”: first to six legs, and one loose visit on the doubles can flip the whole feel of it. In Birmingham, it usually pays to start cleanly — hold throw with authority, then turn the screw the first time the opponent offers a sniff at a break.

From my point of view, the key theme is how close these two often end up. Humphries has been in a lot of tight scorelines recently, and Bunting is the type who keeps forcing you to win legs properly. If Humphries lets Bunting settle into his quick rhythm, this can get uncomfortable; if Humphries controls the early pace, it’s hard for Bunting to generate enough break chances.

Luke Humphries

Humphries is still one of the most complete players in this format: heavy first-nine scoring, good switching when T20 isn’t there, and a very reliable ability to “save” messy legs with big combination finishes. What I’ve noticed lately is that he’s been dragged into last-leg territory quite a bit. That’s not necessarily a negative — it shows he’s mentally strong — but it also means he’s not always creating early separation.

The upside for Humphries is simple: when he lands his standard game, he controls the match. He can hold in 14 darts without drama, and that puts scoreboard pressure on the opponent’s throw every single time. Against Bunting, I want Humphries to keep it percentage-based: no forcing the pace, no chasing hero shots unnecessarily, and most importantly, take the first clean look at a double when it arrives.

If Humphries is sharp on doubles in the first half of the match, he usually becomes very hard to live with. The danger comes if he starts missing at key moments — Bunting will take those chances, and then you’re suddenly in a scrap where every leg feels like a must-win.

Stephen Bunting

Bunting is one of the trickiest opponents in this Premier League set-up because he plays with intent. He’s quick, positive on finishes, and he doesn’t get phased by reputations — he’ll step up and take a 96 or a 104 if you hand him a look. In a short race, that’s exactly what you want as the outsider: stay close, wait for the door to open, then walk straight through it.

The other thing with Bunting is that he’s very good at making matches feel “busy”. You don’t get many quiet legs against him. Even if he’s a touch behind in scoring, he’s often close enough to apply pressure at the point that matters — when you’re looking at a double. If Humphries is anything less than crisp on the outer ring, Bunting becomes a real nuisance.

For Bunting to win, I think two levers matter most: nicking the first break chance that appears, and stopping Humphries from finding cruise-control holds. If it’s level around 3–3, Bunting’s belief grows, and this becomes the kind of match where one leg decides everything.