'The Bullet' Weathers Significant Scare while The Indian pioneer Creates A Landmark for India.
The tournament's fourth seed narrowly avoided an early exit to advance into the next stage of the world darts championship on Sunday.
Bunting, who reached beaten semi-finalist last year, was taken all the way to a final-set shootout by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before securing a 3-2 victory at Alexandra Palace.
An Eventful Match
Bunting began in blistering fashion, posting a superb 119.4 en route to powering through the first set. He looked in total control after hitting a spectacular 160 finish to take 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 landed on his shoulder – to pull back. Bunting regained his composure in the decider, but was still pushed to the limit before securing it 4-2.
“When you are playing at Alexandra Palace you feel all the emotions,” Bunting stated on broadcasters. “I knew Sebastian was going to be tough and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am fortunate to get away with that one.”
Kumar Secures Landmark Win
Bunting's second-round foe will be Nitin Kumar, who achieved a first 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, suggested this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion potential” darts players from India.
“Words fail me today. I’m emotional, I’m happy,” Kumar stated. “Dream big, anything is possible. This was my dream ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”
He concluded with a light-hearted warning: “I’m sorry, a decade down the line if you have eight people in the world championship walking on to Bollywood music, you know who started it.”
Other First-Round Action
- Darren Beveridge: The Scotland's debutant made an impressive 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, 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 identical 3-0 scoreline.
- Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in good form as he comfortably defeated Bradley Brooks 3-0.
- Wesley Plaisier: The Dutch player beat Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1.
- James Hurrell: Concluded the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over America’s Stowe Buntz.
