The Grand Slam of Darts did not begin the way Stephen Bunting had anticipated.
In his opening match against Alexis Toylo, the Englishman endured a frustrating experience that left him visibly furious — as clearly seen in the footage that has circulated online.
81 average, 105 phantom darts and one of the coolest tops-tops you’ll ever seem
Alexis Toylo what a boy
— DartsAnonymous (@anonymous_darts) November 8, 2025
Bunting suffered an unexpected defeat to the Filipino player, a result that already came as a blow. But it was the manner in which the loss occurred that truly infuriated him. Toylo played at an extremely slow pace — so slow, in fact, that some have speculated he might be the slowest player ever to appear at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Throughout the match, Bunting struggled to hide his irritation. His body language told the story, with visible frustration on his face as he repeatedly waited to throw his darts. The final leg of the match only intensified matters, and when the game concluded, Bunting’s anger could no longer be contained.
He later expressed his emotions in conversation with a reporter — a moment that was captured on video and quickly shared across social media. Fans and pundits have since speculated about what exactly Bunting said, though lip readers in the darts community have yet to reach a definitive conclusion. What is clear, however, is that the former Lakeside champion was anything but pleased.
Despite the rocky start, Bunting’s tournament hopes are not yet over. Competing in Group C, he will need strong performances in his remaining matches against Luke Woodhouse and Martin Schindler if he is to progress — making his defeat to Toylo, on paper his easiest opponent, even more costly.
The Grand Slam of Darts continues on Sunday afternoon, with several Dutch players also in action. Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman face each other, while Michael van Gerwen takes on Niko Springer, Danny Noppert meets Cameron Crabtree, and Jurjen van der Velde plays Martin Lukeman.