Stephen Bunting secured his maiden World Sequence title with an 8-4 victory over Gerwyn Value within the remaining of the Bahrain Masters.
The 39-year-old knocked out Chris Dobey within the quarter-finals and world primary Luke Humphries within the semi-finals, earlier than comfortably defeating Welshman Value.
Earlier on Friday, Value, 39, brought about a shock when he beat newly-crowned world champion Luke Littler 6-2 within the final eight.
Littler, 17, received his first senior trophy in Bahrain final 12 months however couldn’t match Value’s efficiency as he averaged a event report 115.31.
Nevertheless, it was Bunting, competing in Bahrain for the primary time, who emerged victorious within the remaining.
He mentioned on ITV that reaching a career-high world quantity 5 has made him “very robust”.
He added: “I’m taking part in the very best I’ve ever performed. I am extra constant than ever earlier than and now I am believing I can win titles.
“The hypnotherapy behind the scenes, the psychology prior to now, it is taken a variety of exhausting work.”
The Englishman has continued to impress since successful his first televised PDC title on the Cazoo Masters in February 2024.
He reached the semi-finals of the world championship at Alexandra Palace final month, however fell brief in opposition to teenage sensation Littler.
In entrance of a sell-out crowd in Sakhir, nonetheless, Bunting brushed apart fellow debutant Dobey 6-0, earlier than overcoming reigning World Matchplay champion Humphries 7-6.
Value, the 2021 world champion, booked his place within the remaining with a 7-4 victory over Scotland’s Peter Wright within the final 4.
