Stephen Bunting, the tournament’s most recognizable name on the opening day of the New Zealand Darts Masters, saw his campaign come to an abrupt halt when he was outplayed by Australia’s Raymond Smith in the round of 16 in Auckland. Smith dominated the match, rattling off five consecutive legs and ultimately sealing a 6‑2 triumph over the third‑seeded Bunting. He posted an impressive average of 99.81, hit 86 percent of his double attempts, and capped the victory with a spectacular 124 checkout that landed on the bullseye.
After the win, a visibly excited Smith said, “It feels pretty awesome. It’s been eight years since I last stepped onto a PDC stage, so I’m really pumped.” He went on to credit the growing infrastructure of the Australian Darts Association (ADA), the DPNZ circuit, and the ANZ Premier League for giving players like him the platform to compete at this level. “What the PDC is investing in the Oceanic region is starting to show in the results,” he added. Smith’s next challenge will be a quarter‑final showdown with fellow Australian Adam Leek.
Leek earned his spot by surviving six match darts against Ross Smith and then clinching a last‑leg decider on his debut in the World Series of Darts, a dramatic entry that underscored his composure under pressure. Elsewhere in the draw, top‑seeded Dutchman Gian van Veen displayed his class by cruising to a 6‑1 victory over New Zealand’s World Cup representative Jonny Tata, posting an average north of 97.
Van Veen now awaits 2022 runner‑up Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals. Clayton, the Welshman, rallied from a 4‑2 deficit to overcome home favourite Haupai Puha, setting up a clash with the Dutch star. The schedule also highlighted several other marquee matchups. Former world champion Gerwyn Price, who lifted the 2022 title, breezed past Mark Cleaver 6‑1, earning a quarter‑final berth against Damon Heta.
Heta, in turn, produced a comeback victory over Ben Robb after a strong run of five legs on the spin. In the other quarter‑finals, Josh Rock will meet James Wade following Rock’s win over Simon Whitlock, while Wade advanced after dispatching Kayden Milne.
The tournament’s last‑16 results (best of 11 legs) were as follows: - 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 am (UK and Ireland time): - Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton - James Wade vs Josh Rock - Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta - Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek Semi‑finals will be contested over a best‑of‑13‑leg format, with the final set to be a best‑of‑15‑leg showdown. Exact match‑ups for the semis will be confirmed once the quarter‑finals conclude. Fans looking to follow the action can tune into Sky Sports, which will broadcast live darts throughout the event.
For those preferring streaming, NOW offers live coverage of the tournament alongside a broader suite of sports content. Additionally, the Love the Darts podcast provides commentary, analysis, and behind‑the‑scenes insights for avid followers. Beyond the New Zealand Masters, the darts calendar continues with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix returning to Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4.
Luke Littler will defend his title in that competition, adding another high‑stakes event to the autumn schedule. Overall, the early rounds of the New Zealand Darts Masters have delivered a blend of surprise upsets, dominant performances, and compelling storylines that set the stage for an exciting second half of the tournament. Raymond Smith’s victory over a top‑seed like Bunting illustrates the rising standard of Oceanic darts, while the continued investment from the PDC promises more thrilling contests as the event progresses.