The revamped Winmau World Masters gets underway in Milton Keynes starting Thursday, now under the PDC banner for the first time. This iconic tournament, which has a rich history, replaces the PDC Masters as one of the top events of the year. The Masters was once an annual event featuring the top 24 players in the world, and last year’s tournament was marked by a surprise victory from Stephen Bunting, who triumphed over Michael van Gerwen in the final.
Bunting is aiming to defend his impressive form as he heads into the 2025 World Masters. After an excellent start to the year, including a title at the Bahrain Darts Masters and a runner-up finish at the Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch, Bunting is full of confidence. He also reached the semifinals of the 2024 World Championship just a month ago, further fueling his hopes for success this season.
“It’s always important to start off the calendar year with really good performances,” Bunting said in an interview with the PDC. “I won the Masters last year in my first event of 2024 and I went on to have a successful season, so I’m hoping for more of the same this year.” With a solid start to the year, Bunting is looking to carry that momentum into the World Masters.
In the first round, Bunting will face William Borland, who made it through the preliminary rounds on Wednesday. Borland is known for his explosive potential, including his famous nine-darter at the World Championship, making him a formidable opponent. “Willie is a good player. It’s going to be difficult, but I need to make sure I’ll fully focus on my game,” said Bunting, the current world number five. “He’s had some magical moments on the big stage before, especially that nine-darter at the World Championship.”
Bunting and Borland will face off on Thursday night, and the winner of that match will go on to play either Peter Wright or Kevin Doets in the second round on Saturday. With both players looking to make their mark on this revamped tournament, all eyes will be on this exciting first-round clash.
