Stephen Bunting Endures Major Fright as 'The Royal Bengal' 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 losing semi-finalist last year, was taken all the way to a final-set shootout by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a 3-2 victory at Alexandra Palace.
A Rollercoaster Battle
Bunting stormed out of the blocks, averaging an incredible 119.4 to power through the first set. He looked in total control after checking out a spectacular 160 finish to claim the second set.
However, his form dipped, and he managed just one leg over the subsequent two sets. This enabled Bialecki – who remained unfazed even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to draw level. Bunting steadied himself in the decider, but was still taken to the wire before winning it 4-2.
“Performing at Ally Pally you feel all the emotions,” Bunting explained to Sky Sports. “I knew Sebastian was going to be tough and even at 2-0 he never surrendered. I am lucky to come through that one.”
Kumar Secures Landmark Win
Bunting's next opponent will be Nitin Kumar, who achieved a first by becoming the first Indian winner at the event. He overcame the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling contest.
The veteran player, who had been defeated in all four of his previous first-round matches, remarked this landmark win could have “opened the floodgates to a billion potential” darts players from his homeland.
“I’m lost for words at this moment. I’m overwhelmed, I’m happy,” Kumar expressed. “Dream big, anything is achievable. This vision motivated me ever since I watched Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”
He joked with a humorous warning: “I’m sorry, a decade from now if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Indian film songs, you know who started it.”
Additional First-Round Results
- 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 managed just one leg.
- Jonny Tata: Another first-timer, from New Zealand, dashed the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a resounding 3-0 victory.
- Dom Taylor: The fellow newcomer defeated Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the identical 3-0 scoreline.
- Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in fine fettle as he eased past Bradley Brooks 3-0.
- Wesley Plaisier: The Dutch player overcame Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1.
- James Hurrell: Concluded the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over America’s Stowe Buntz.