🔗 Share this article

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 was a beaten semi-finalist last year, was taken all the way to a final-set shootout by Polish qualifier Sebastian Bialecki before securing a 3-2 victory at Alexandra Palace.

A Rollercoaster Encounter

Bunting made a flying start, averaging an incredible 119.4 to power through the opening set. Victory seemed assured after landing a spectacular 160 finish to claim the second set.

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

“Performing at Alexandra Palace you feel all the feelings,” Bunting explained to Sky Sports. “I knew Sebastian was going to be difficult and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am lucky to get away with that one.”

Kumar Creates Groundbreaking Victory

Bunting's second-round foe will be Nitin Kumar, who created a landmark by becoming the first Indian winner at the tournament. He overcame the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a closely-fought match.

The 40-year-old, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round appearances, remarked this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion potential” darts players from India.

“I’m lost for words right now. I’m ecstatic, I’m delighted,” said Kumar. “If you dream it, anything is possible. This was my dream ever since I watched Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”

He added with a light-hearted warning: “I’m sorry, ten years down the line if you have eight people in the world championship walking on to Indian film songs, you know who started it.”

Other First-Round Results

• Darren Beveridge: The Scotland's debutant made an strong start, averaging 91.62 in a one-sided 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 fellow newcomer defeated 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.