Stephen Bunting, the tournament’s most prominent name on the opening day of the New Zealand Darts Masters, suffered an early exit after being eliminated in the round of 16 by Australia’s Raymond Smith in Auckland. Smith dominated the match, rattling off five consecutive legs and ultimately sealing a 6‑2 win over the third‑seeded Bunting. He posted an impressive average of 99.81, hit 86% of his double attempts and finished the contest with a spectacular 124 checkout that landed on the bullseye.
"It feels pretty awesome," Smith exclaimed after the match. "It’s been eight years since I last stepped onto a PDC stage, so I’m really excited. I think I played really well.
The work we’re doing in the Australian Darts Association, the DPNZ, and the ANZ Premier League is setting us up for moments like this. The PDC’s investment in the Oceanic region is clearly paying off in the results we’re seeing." Smith’s victory earns him a quarter‑final clash with fellow Australian Adam Leek, who survived six match darts against Ross Smith before clinching a dramatic last‑leg decider in his World Series of Darts debut. The knockout bracket now looks as follows: top seed Gian van Veen, who posted a 97+ average in a 6‑1 demolition of New Zealand’s World Cup representative Jonny Tata, will meet 2022 runner‑up Jonny Clayton after the Welshman rallied from a 4‑2 deficit to overcome local favourite Haupai Puha. The tournament schedule continues with a series of high‑stakes matches.
Gerwyn Price, the 2022 champion, breezed past Mark Cleaver 6‑1 and will face Damon Heta in the quarter‑finals after Heta rallied from behind, winning five legs on the spin to defeat Ben Robb. Meanwhile, Josh Rock and James Wade have secured their spots in the next round, having dispatched Simon Whitlock and Kayden Milne respectively. All match times are listed in UK and Ireland local time.
The last‑16 round, played as best‑of‑11 legs, featured the following results: - 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 The quarter‑finals, also best‑of‑11 legs, are slated for Saturday, August 15, starting at 8 a.m.: - Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton - James Wade vs Josh Rock - Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta - Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek Semi‑final match‑ups (best‑of‑13 legs) will be determined after the quarter‑finals, with the final (best‑of‑15 legs) to follow later in the week. Beyond the immediate action, the New Zealand Darts Masters highlights the growing strength of darts in the Oceania region.
The partnership between the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and local governing bodies such as the Australian Darts Association (ADA) and Darts Players New Zealand (DPNZ) has created a pipeline for talent development, giving players like Smith and Leek more opportunities to compete on the world stage. Their recent performances suggest that the investment is beginning to bear fruit, with Oceanic players increasingly challenging the traditional powerhouses from Europe.
Fans can catch every moment of the tournament live on Sky Sports, which will also broadcast the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix from September 28 to October 4, where young star Luke Littler will defend his title. For those who prefer streaming, the NOW platform offers live darts coverage alongside a broad range of other sports. Additionally, listeners can stay up‑to‑date with the latest darts news and analysis by tuning into the "Love the Darts" podcast, which regularly features interviews with top players and behind‑the‑scenes insights.
The New Zealand Darts Masters continues to deliver thrilling darts action, showcasing both established veterans and rising stars. As the competition progresses, the narrative of Oceanic darts gaining momentum against the backdrop of PDC’s global expansion will remain a compelling storyline for fans worldwide.