Stephen Bunting edged through a tense opening test at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, surviving a spirited challenge from Sebastian Bialecki to book a second-round clash with India’s Nitin Kumar at Alexandra Palace. On a dramatic Day Four, the world number four was forced into the tournament’s first tie-break before regaining control when it mattered most.
Bunting looked dominant early, averaging 119 in the opening set and surging into a 2–0 lead. However, Bialecki responded impressively, winning six of the next seven legs to force a decisive fifth set. With the Pole leading 2–1, Bunting steadied himself, producing consecutive 14-darters to seal victory in a match full of momentum swings.
Reflecting on the contest, Bunting admitted, “At 2-0 up, that was not the plan,” before adding, “I felt comfortable, I felt in control and for whatever reason I fell asleep.” He continued, “To go behind in the match was a travesty to be honest, but I’m so happy I was able to dig myself out of that hole and find a way to win.” Praising the atmosphere, he said, “The fans were exceptional throughout the whole game. They really helped me through tonight.”
Awaiting him is Nitin Kumar, who etched his name into darts history by becoming the first Indian player to win on the World Championship stage. Kumar defeated Richard Veenstra in a deciding-set thriller, overcoming five ton-plus finishes and thriving under crowd support. “It’s not possible to put this into words. I love it, it was beautiful,” Kumar said, adding, “Hopefully this will open the floodgates for darts in India. It has to inspire people!”
Elsewhere, Joe Cullen impressed with a straight-sets win over Bradley Brooks, declaring, “I’ve been terrible all year, but this is where it matters.” Darren Beveridge, Dom Taylor, and Jonny Tata also advanced, while James Hurrell closed the session with a hard-fought victory, setting the stage for another packed day at Ally Pally.
Source: PDC.TV
