12 hours ago
Stephen Bunting conqueror stuns the world in legendary New York arena now he craves the Mecca of Darts
Qualifier wants to go from one iconic stage in New York to another in London
American hero Jason Brandon shattered Stephen Bunting and is chasing down a dream date at the Ally Pally.
The 50-year-old produced the biggest performance of his career to batter The Bullet in the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Gardens in front of a joyous New York crowd.
Brandon won 6-4 over Bunting with the Tennessee slinger earning redemption for his loss to Rob Cross on the stage two years ago. But, as well as success in the States, he also has eyes on another iconic venue in London and a place alongside the likes of defending champion Luke Littler in this year's expanded Paddy Power World Championship.
PDC expansions of the event have opened more doors for the likes of Brandon with five places available to US-based stars for Ally Pally.
Brandon also has a shot of making the Lakeside World Championship, but has no hesitation in nominating which English Capital venue he'd like to be heading at Christmas as he said: 'It's bad to say, but I 100 per cent have to pick Ally Pally. It's just that's since I started and I found out about all this stuff, that's been a dream of mine to play. Obviously, Lakeside is awesome and I would love to get back there and have another chance. But if I was to qualify for Ally Pally, I would absolutely have to take that spot.
'We have all kinds of opportunities now and with the additional spots since they've expanded the PDC, those other spots now that's available to get, there's other avenues, not just open for one or two positions. We've got like five spots we can get now. That's awesome. I hope it gets more from there. I hope it expands even further, but we'll see how it goes.
'I'm hoping I don't mess myself up out of any of the spots. I tried to do that a few years ago, tried to play both and try to keep my options open to play CDC and WDF. Hopefully I have a shot at PDC and I messed myself up out of both of them. Right now I'm still in a good spot for Lakeside. I still can make the CDC stuff and we'll see how it goes.'
Brandon is thrilled to have the New York opportunity and said: 'I've got to admit, I really wasn't expecting to make it back this year. I only had the one chance left in the qualifier and I played the best starts I played all day. I was fortunate enough to get through the qualifier to make it back up here.
'It's unreal that darts is the way is coming up here now in the US. To be able to play at such an iconic stage, it's amazing. It's great. It's awesome.'
He displayed his talents with the Bunting success which has earned a last-eight crack at Damon Heta and said: 'That's my biggest win. I'm struggling to find the words. My goal was to come up here and get a little bit of redemption for two years ago. I don't know how I held it together but I was able to focus. I'm feeling way better about my darts now than I was coming into the event. I'm ready for Saturday.'
