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STEPHEN Bunting goes into this year’s William Hill World Darts Championship with confidence after digging himself out of a hole in form that at one stage caused him to contemplate packing away his arrows and getting a job.

The Windle-based thrower, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the PDC after coming over as BDO World Champion, says the dip in form, subsequent loss of confidence and the knock on effect on his outlook made him seriously think about quitting the sport.

But after changing a few aspects of his game, including visiting a sports psychologist, Bunting has battled his way back to take his place at the £1.8 million Alexandra Palace showpiece.

And slowly but surely the form has begun to return since June - and he will need that when he ventures on to the oche on Friday.

Bunting said: “I am locked away practising for three to four hours a day and my form has come back at the right time.

“I am playing well and looking forward to it.”

But it has not been plain sailing, and darts is no longer a sport where a dip in form or confidence can go unpunished, particularly with the upsurge in European talent as the sport continues to experience a massive growth surge.

Bunting explained: “It was really difficult to the point to the point that I was about to pack the whole game in a look for a job.

“I was so close to doing that because it was really getting me down.

“I was going to darts and not wanting to be there, and then coming home and not being happy around my family and being miserable.

“I have found a way to dig myself out of that, and I am not looking backwards now.”

Bunting’s rise the prominence came in the aftermath of winning the Lakeside final in 2014 and earned respect with the way he bounced into the 2015 Ally Pally event, particularly his gripping encounter with Raymond van Barneveld.

But the world of darts is a rocky business, and one in which nerves and confidence are tested.

“When I came over as World Champion it gave me the confidence that I could beat anyone.

“But as soon as you start getting beat you start doubting yourself.

“You lose confidence and end up going to tournaments in hope rather than expectation.

“But now I have the bit between my teeth and can go to this saying ‘I can win this’,” he said.

Bunting faces a tough opening opponent in Belgian World Youth Champion Dimitri van Den Bergh.

And he knows he will have to be on his mettle - but says his preparation is tip-top and that has included going back to playing local darts in the Huyton League with Prescot’s Deane’s House.

“Playing on a night a week with the lads has helped, it is still competitive and better than just throwing in the garage.

“It has helped.

“I am playing Van den Bergh, who is a top player who has just won the World Youth Championships.

“Although I am going to have to be on my game to beat him, this is a World Championship.

“There is going to be someone up there throwing an 100 average back at him.

“We will see on the day but I am pretty confident.

And he revealed one of the keys to the turnaround in fortunes.

“I saw a sports psychologist for a couple of months.

“Now I am no longer worrying about every single dart,” he said.