🔗 Share this article

The tournament's fourth seed narrowly avoided an early exit to move into the next stage of the prestigious tournament on the opening weekend.

Bunting, who reached beaten semi-finalist last year, was forced all the way to a dramatic fifth leg by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before securing a 3-2 victory at the iconic Ally Pally venue.

An Eventful Encounter

Bunting began in blistering fashion, averaging an incredible 119.4 en route to powering through the opening set. He looked in total control after checking out a spectacular 160 finish to take the second set.

However, ‘The Bullet’ cooled off, and he managed just one leg over the next two sets. This enabled Bialecki – who remained oblivious even when a wasp landed on his shoulder – to square the match. Bunting regained his composure in the final set, but was still pushed to the limit before taking it 4-2.

“Competing at Ally Pally you feel all the emotions,” Bunting stated on Sky Sports. “I was aware Sebastian was going to be difficult and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am lucky to come through that one.”

Kumar Secures Groundbreaking Victory

Bunting's second-round foe will be 'The Royal Bengal', who achieved a first by becoming the first Indian winner at the tournament. He overcame Dutchman Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling match.

The veteran player, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round matches, remarked this landmark win could have “opened the floodgates to a billion potential” darts players from India.

“I don’t know at this moment. I’m overwhelmed, I’m happy,” Kumar expressed. “With belief, anything is achievable. This was my dream ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”

He concluded with a humorous prediction: “I’m sorry, a decade down the line if you have multiple players in the world championship walking on to Indian film songs, you know who started it.”

Other First-Round Action

• Darren Beveridge: The Scotland's debutant made an impressive start, averaging 91.62 in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh, who won 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 saw off Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 3-0 scoreline.
• 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.