Stephen Bunting will compete in the upcoming Austrian Darts Open and European Darts Open after successfully qualifying for both in Barnsley.

In the first of three days of action in the Barnsley Metrodome, Bunting put the disappointment of missing last weekend’s German Darts Championship behind him to ensure that he would be a part of the next couple of Euro Tour events.

And it was a blistering start in qualification for the Bullet. demolishing Shaun Wilkinson 6-0 with a 100.20 average. Despite not hitting the heights of that match against Willie Borland, the Liverpudlian comfortably won the game 6-2. Job done – a trip to Graz confirmed.

Moving on and Stephen was looking for a double – and that is precisely what he got.

In a close contest against Irishman, John O’Shea, it was Bunting who was on the right side of a 6-4 score line. The former Lakeside World Champion eased past Nick Fulwell 6-1 and cemented his place in the European Darts Open Leverkusen, Germany.

At the end of the day, a delighted Bunting said: “I’m extremely pleased to have qualified for both events. That is what I came here to do and delighted that is what happened.

“The Euro Tour events are so important. If you fail to qualify then others around you in the rankings can jump ahead whilst you’re at home, not able to make a penny.

“I’ve really missed them and now they are back, I’ll be aiming to secure qualification for the rest this year.

“I’ll now take the confidence from these four wins into the two pro-tour events.”