Champion Darts Player’s Dreams Come True

Known as the ‘People’s Champion’ to darts fans who were chanting his name throughout the 2024 Cazoo Masters, it meant a tremendous amount to winner Stephen Bunting to take the crown (and of course the beautiful new trophy!) at this year’s event – and no Stephen, it wasn’t all a dream!

February saw the Professional Darts Corporation’s annual Masters event return to Milton Keynes’ Marshall Arena, as 24 players competed across three days, with global TV coverage headlined by the ITV4 broadcasts in the UK.

St Helens’ Bunting produced arguably the best displays of his career as he emerged victorious to win his first televised PDC event in a decade of trying. The 38-year-old averaged 102 and landed eight 180s during the final against world number two Michael van Gerwen, clinching a 14-darter on tops to claim the £65,000 top prize and the gloriously golden new Masters trophy.

Bunting had also defeated reigning World Champion Luke Humphries during the event, and was a hugely popular winner after reinventing himself both on and off the board in recent years. “To do it front of a crowd that were chanting my name from the minute I stepped foot in Milton Keynes means so much to me,” said Bunting.

When the Design Hits Bullseye!

What’s better than a dartboard? A sparkling gold dartboard! For an award of this magnitude, the award design needed to match that and we worked together with the Professional Darts Corporation to create these new designs. We created three awards; one perpetual trophy to lift at the final, one for the winner to keep and one for the runner up – they all needed to have that wow factor. The high shine 24ct gold plated solid aluminium awards have that weighty feel associated with a big triumph, with engraved dartboard detailing and Cazoo Masters branding onto the metal. We at EFX really believe that winner’s feeling is a feeling like no other!

Some final words from winner Bunting: “I’m really happy. This just shows my hard work is paying off, and it’s a great start to the season. Hopefully I can push on from this – I really think I deserve this trophy.” We agree with you there!

Photos © Taylor Lanning/PDC