Stephen Bunting, the tournament favorite, suffered a surprising early exit on the opening day of the New Zealand Darts Masters when he was knocked out in the round of 16 by New Zealand’s own Raymond Smith in Auckland. The Australian‑born Smith dominated the match, rattling off five consecutive legs and ultimately sealing a 6‑2 win over the third‑seeded Bunting. Smith posted an impressive average of 99.81 and hit 86% of his double attempts, capping his performance with a spectacular 124 checkout that landed on the bullseye.
After the match, a visibly excited Smith praised his achievement, saying, "It feels pretty awesome. Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I'm pretty stoked." He added that his recent form is a product of the growing infrastructure in the region, noting, "What we're doing in the ADA, DPNZ and ANZ Premier League is setting us up for this sort of stuff. What the PDC is investing in the Oceanic region is showing in the results." Smith’s victory earns him a quarter‑final clash with fellow Australian Adam Leek.
Leek earned his spot by surviving six match darts against Ross Smith and then clinching the decider in a dramatic World Series of Darts debut. The two Australians will meet in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter, with both players eager to prove that the Oceanic circuit can produce world‑class talent.
The top seed of the tournament, Dutchman Gian van Veen, continued his dominant run by crushing New Zealand’s World Cup representative Jonny Tata 6‑1, posting an average above 97. Van Veen now faces 2022 World Series runner‑up Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals after the Welshman rallied from a 4‑2 deficit to defeat local favorite Haupai Puha. In other quarter‑final match‑ups, 2022 champion Gerwyn Price breezed through his round of 16 opponent Mark Cleaver with a 6‑1 scoreline, setting up a quarter‑final showdown with Australian Damon Heta, who recovered from a deficit to beat Ben Robb after a tense finish.
Meanwhile, the quarter‑finals will also feature a clash between Josh Rock and James Wade, both of whom dispatched their respective opponents—Simon Whitlock and Kayden Milne—earlier in the day. The full schedule for the remainder of the event is as follows (all times UK and Ireland): - **Last 16 (best of 11 legs)** - Gerwyn Price 6‑1 Mark Cleaver - Ross Smith 5‑6 Adam Leek - James Wade 6‑0 Kayden Milne - Josh Rock 6‑4 Simon Whitlock - Gian van Veen 6‑1 Jonny Tata - Jonny Clayton 6‑5 Haupai Puha - Damon Heta 6‑4 Ben Robb - Stephen Bunting 2‑6 Raymond Smith - **Quarter‑finals (best of 11 legs) – Saturday, August 15 (from 8 am)** - Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton - James Wade vs Josh Rock - Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta - Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek - **Semi‑finals (best of 13 legs)** – to be confirmed - **Final (best of 15 legs)** – to be confirmed The New Zealand Darts Masters is part of the World Series of Darts, a collection of high‑profile events that showcase top talent from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) alongside emerging players from host nations.
The tournament not only offers significant prize money but also provides crucial ranking points and exposure for regional players seeking to break into the global circuit. The event is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available through NOW. Fans can also follow the action via the "Love the Darts" podcast, which offers in‑depth analysis, player interviews, and behind‑the‑scenes stories from the tournament. Looking ahead, the PDC’s commitment to expanding the sport in Oceania is evident through increased investment in local leagues such as the Australian Darts Premier (ADP), the New Zealand Darts Association (DPNZ), and the ANZ Premier League.
These platforms are designed to give players regular high‑level competition, improve standards, and ultimately produce more upsets like Smith’s victory over Bunting. Beyond the immediate excitement of the New Zealand Masters, the darts calendar continues with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix returning to Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4. Defending champion Luke Littler will be looking to retain his title in a tournament renowned for its double‑in, double‑out format, which adds an extra layer of strategy and pressure. For viewers who want to keep up with all the action, darts can be streamed live via NOW, and highlights, full match replays, and exclusive content are regularly posted on the PDC’s official YouTube channel and social media platforms.
Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the sport, the New Zealand Darts Masters provides a thrilling showcase of precision, composure, and the ever‑growing talent pool emerging from the Pacific region.