Belfast Premier League winner Stephen Bunting says Northern Ireland’s 9-dart hero Josh Rock has the flexibility to turn into a world champion sooner or later.
Bunting noticed off Dutchman Gian Van Veen within the closing to win the fourth evening of competitors of this yr’s sequence however needed to share the limelight with County Antrim man Rock, who hit the right leg throughout 1 / 4-closing defeat in entrance of his residence crowd.
Bunting’s success noticed him safe his first factors of the marketing campaign, whereas Rock sits backside of the desk among the many elite eight-sturdy area and not using a level so far.
“Josh is such a fantastic player, I’ve been practicing with him over the past few weeks, and his time will come,” mentioned Bunting on the publish-occasion media convention.
“He is one of the best players in the world. People need to get off his back. He was up against the ropes tonight and he pulled out a nine-darter, from nowhere. That shows how good he is.
“I truthfully imagine that if he knuckles down and retains doing what he is doing it will solely be a matter of time earlier than he wins a world championship.”
Twenty-four-year-old Rock’s consistent performances during the season have catapulted him to the upper echelons of the world rankings and helped him secure a maiden Premier League appearance this term.
“His averages, his scoring, his ending, he is bought the entire package deal, and he is such a younger lad as effectively, so grounded, works actually exhausting, he is bought a stunning household,” added former BDO world champion Bunting.
“He’ll undoubtedly not end this Premier League with no factors anyhow, I can assure that.
“He’s a fantastic player, he’s a great friend of mine, and I wish him nothing but success.”
