Stephen Bunting left New York with another sharp reminder of the standard now being set at the top of the World Series.
The Bullet was beaten 6-3 by Luke Humphries in the US Darts Masters quarter-finals at Madison Square Garden, with the PDC report noting that Humphries averaged almost 106 before going on to retain the title. That number matters more than the scoreline.
Bunting had already beaten Alex Spellman 6-2 in the opening round, but the step from North American opposition to Humphries was severe. NineDartNews had already flagged the danger in his Humphries quarter-final draw, and the match played out like a measurement of where the ceiling currently sits.
Bunting Gets Blackpool Warning
The defeat does not damage Bunting’s wider standing, but it lands at an awkward point in the calendar. Sky Sports’ schedule points straight toward the World Matchplay in Blackpool from July 18-26, leaving little time for leading contenders to turn sharp spells into title-level pressure.
For Humphries, the route through Bunting, Gian van Veen and Luke Littler reinforced his big-stage control. For Bunting, the lesson is more specific: respectable scoring is no longer enough when Humphries is taking legs away at that pace.
Luke Humphries retains the US Darts Masters title.
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 27, 2026
Source: PDC, Sky Sports.
