Stephen Bunting Endures Significant Scare as The Indian pioneer Secures History for India.
The tournament's fourth seed edged through a tense battle to progress into the second round of the prestigious tournament on the opening weekend.
Bunting, who reached beaten semi-finalist last year, was forced all the way to a final-set shootout by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a hard-fought victory at Alexandra Palace.
An Eventful Battle
Bunting stormed out of the blocks, averaging an incredible 119.4 as he powered through the first set. Victory seemed assured after checking out a spectacular 160 finish to seize the second set.
Nevertheless, his momentum stalled, and he managed just one leg over the subsequent two sets. This allowed Bialecki – who remained oblivious even when a wasp landed on his shoulder – to square the match. Bunting steadied himself in the decider, but was still taken to the wire before securing it 4-2.
“When you are playing at this venue you experience all the emotions,” Bunting told broadcasters. “I knew Sebastian was going to be a challenge and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am fortunate to get away with that one.”
Kumar Secures Landmark Victory
Bunting's second-round foe will be Nitin Kumar, who achieved a first by becoming the first Indian winner at the championship. He beat the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling match.
The veteran player, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round matches, suggested this landmark win could have “opened the floodgates to a billion potential” darts players from India.
“Words fail me at this moment. I’m ecstatic, I’m happy,” Kumar stated. “Dream big, anything is achievable. This vision motivated me ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”
He concluded with a humorous prediction: “I’m sorry, ten years from now if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Bollywood music, you know who started it.”
Further First-Round Action
- Darren Beveridge: The Scottish debutant made an convincing start, averaging 91.62 in a one-sided 3-0 win over Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh, who managed just one leg.
- Jonny Tata: Another debutant, from New Zealand, dashed the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a commanding 3-0 victory.
- Dom Taylor: The other newcomer defeated Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 3-0 margin.
- Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in fine fettle as he comfortably defeated Bradley Brooks 3-0.
- Wesley Plaisier: The Dutchman beat Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1.
- James Hurrell: Rounded off the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over American Stowe Buntz.
