Waites believes the championship will be fiercely contested with a host of players in the running to take the Lakeside title after reigning champion Stephen Bunting jumped ship to the PDC tournament .
Reigning champion Stephen Bunting defeated Alan Norris 7 - 4 in the 2014 final .
Waites believes the championship will be fiercely contested with a host of players in the running to take the Lakeside title after reigning champion Stephen Bunting , who defeated Alan Norris 7 - 4 in the 2014 final , jumped ship to the PDC tournament .