Stephen Bunting Endures Significant Scare as Nitin Kumar Creates History for Indian Darts.

The tournament's fourth seed edged through a tense battle to progress into the second round of the world darts championship on Sunday.

Bunting, who reached losing semi-finalist last year, was pushed all the way to a final-set shootout by Polish qualifier Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a 3-2 victory at Alexandra Palace.

An Eventful Encounter

Bunting began in blistering fashion, posting a superb 119.4 as he powered through the opening set. The win appeared certain after hitting a spectacular 160 finish to seize the second set.

However, his form dipped, and he won just one leg over the subsequent two sets. This enabled Bialecki – who remained oblivious even when a wasp landed on his shoulder – to draw level. Bunting found his rhythm in the final set, but was still taken to the wire before taking it 4-2.

“Competing at Ally Pally you experience all the emotions,” Bunting stated on broadcasters. “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 Landmark Win

Bunting's second-round foe will be Nitin Kumar, who created a landmark by becoming the pioneering Indian at the event. He overcame the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a thrilling contest.

The veteran player, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round appearances, implied this breakthrough could have “opened the floodgates to a billion” darts players from his homeland.

“I’m lost for words right now. I’m emotional, I’m thrilled,” said Kumar. “With belief, anything is achievable. I’ve dreamed of this ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.”

He joked with a light-hearted warning: “I’m sorry, a decade in the future if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Bollywood music, don’t blame me.”

Other First-Round Action

• 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 clear 3-0 victory.
• Dom Taylor: The fellow newcomer defeated Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 3-0 margin.
• Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in excellent touch 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.