The Merseyside thrower Weathers Significant Scare as Nitin Kumar Makes A Landmark for India.
The 2024 semi-finalist narrowly avoided an early exit to progress into the second round of the world darts championship on the opening weekend.
Bunting, who reached losing semi-finalist last year, was pushed all the way to a dramatic fifth leg by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a hard-fought victory at the iconic Ally Pally venue.
A Rollercoaster Encounter
Bunting stormed out of the blocks, posting a superb 119.4 to power through the first set. He looked in total control after landing a spectacular 160 finish to claim the second set.
Yet, ‘The Bullet’ cooled off, and he won just one leg over the next two sets. This let Bialecki – who remained unfazed even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to pull back. Bunting steadied himself in the final set, but was still taken to the wire before winning it 4-2.
“Performing at Ally Pally you go through all the feelings,” Bunting explained to Sky Sports. “I was aware Sebastian was going to be difficult and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am fortunate to get away with that one.”
Kumar Makes Groundbreaking Win
Bunting's next opponent will be Nitin Kumar, who created a landmark by becoming the pioneering Indian at the championship. He beat Dutchman Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling match.
The 40-year-old, who had been defeated in all four of his prior first-round matches, remarked this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion” darts players from India.
“I’m lost for words at this moment. I’m ecstatic, I’m delighted,” Kumar expressed. “If you dream it, anything is achievable. I’ve dreamed of this ever since I watched Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”
He concluded with a humorous prediction: “I’m sorry, ten years in the future if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Indian film songs, you know who started it.”
Additional First-Round Action
- Darren Beveridge: The Scottish debutant made an convincing start, averaging 91.62 in a dominant 3-0 win over Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh, who won just one leg.
- Jonny Tata: Another debutant, from New Zealand, ended the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a commanding 3-0 victory.
- Dom Taylor: The other newcomer beat Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 3-0 scoreline.
- Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in excellent touch as he comfortably defeated Bradley Brooks 3-0.
- Wesley Plaisier: The Dutchman overcame Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1.
- James Hurrell: Rounded off the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over American Stowe Buntz.
