The 33-year-old, born in the Netherlands but representing Sweden since 2023, had already reached one final this season. This time, though, he went one better, producing a nerveless display to secure his maiden title.
Bunting, who has been in superb form on the ProTour, looked in control when he stormed into a 4-1 lead. But De Graaf reeled off four straight legs to turn the match around, before holding his nerve in a tense last-leg decider.
“It means a lot, it’s my first title ever in the PDC, so it’s great, it’s fantastic,” said De Graaf.
“In the beginning, I missed a few doubles, but I got it over the line. I'm still shaking!
“I’m happy to be the first (Swedish player to win a Players Championship title), but hopefully not the last.
“For me, this is massive (…) it takes the pressure off me too, so it is great.”
De Graaf’s day began with a narrow 6-5 victory over Adam Paxton, before further wins against Ryan Searle and Jose de Sousa. He then swept aside former world champion Michael Smith 6-2 in the last 16 and followed up with convincing victories over Alan Soutar and Scott Williams to reach the final.
In a high-quality contest, De Graaf averaged 102, enough to withstand Bunting’s 106, the highest average of the day, and clinch the title.
Bunting, the world No. 4, had posted averages of more than 99 in all seven of his matches, including 106 in a dominant semi-final win over Ross Smith. But the 2014 BDO world champion fell short again in the decider, slipping to his seventh defeat in eight Players Championship finals since the start of 2024.
Elsewhere, Luke Littler marked his return to the ProTour after a five-month break with a tight 6-5 victory over Beau Greaves before losing to Rob Cross in the last 16.
Michael van Gerwen was also eliminated at that stage, despite averaging almost 108 in defeat to Scott Williams.
Greaves produced some of the day’s standout darts, averaging over 107 in her opening win over Dennie Olde Kalter before beating Raymond van Barneveld. She eventually bowed out to Littler in the third round.
The biggest average of the day came from Belgium’s Mike De Decker, who posted 108 in a first-round win over Wesley Plaisier. There were also whitewash victories for Martin Schindler and Cam Crabtree, the latter averaging more than 106 against Kim Huybrechts.
This week’s PDC ProTour double-header will conclude with Players Championship 25 on Tuesday.
Results
Last 16
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Martin Lukeman
Scott Williams 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Alan Soutar 6-4 Nick Kenny
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-2 Michael Smith
Stephen Bunting 6-5 Brett Claydon
Rob Cross 6-4 Luke Littler
Karel Sedlacek 6-4 Steve Lennon
Ross Smith 6-4 Jamai van den Herik
Quarter-finals
Scott Williams 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-2 Alan Soutar
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Rob Cross
Ross Smith 6-1 Karel Sedlacek
Semi-finals
Jeffrey de Graaf 7-1 Scott Williams
Stephen Bunting 7-2 Ross Smith
Final
Jeffrey de Graaf 8-7 Stephen Bunting