The Merseyside thrower Endures Major Scare as Nitin Kumar Creates A Landmark for India.
The 2024 semi-finalist narrowly avoided an early exit to progress into the second round of the prestigious tournament on Sunday.
Bunting, who reached beaten semi-finalist last year, was forced all the way to a deciding tie-breaker by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a 3-2 victory at the iconic Ally Pally venue.
An Eventful Battle
Bunting stormed out of the blocks, posting a superb 119.4 to power through the opening set. The win appeared certain after hitting a spectacular 160 finish to seize the second set.
Nevertheless, ‘The Bullet’ cooled off, and he managed just one leg over the next two sets. This allowed Bialecki – who remained unfazed even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to square the match. Bunting found his rhythm in the decider, but was still pushed to the limit before securing it 4-2.
“Performing at Ally Pally you go through all the feelings,” Bunting told broadcasters. “I was aware Sebastian was going to be difficult and even at 2-0 he never gave in. I am lucky to come through that one.”
Kumar Secures Landmark Win
Bunting's second-round foe will be 'The Royal Bengal', who created a landmark by becoming the first Indian winner at the championship. He defeated the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling contest.
The 40-year-old, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round matches, remarked this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion potential” darts players from his homeland.
“Words fail me at this moment. I’m overwhelmed, I’m delighted,” Kumar stated. “If you dream it, anything is achievable. This vision motivated me ever since I watched Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”
He added 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 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 won just one leg.
- Jonny Tata: Another first-timer, from New Zealand, ended the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a commanding 3-0 victory.
- Dom Taylor: The fellow newcomer saw off Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the identical 3-0 scoreline.
- Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in good form as he eased past Bradley Brooks 3-0.
- Wesley Plaisier: The Dutch player beat Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1.
- James Hurrell: Rounded off the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over America’s Stowe Buntz.
