Stephen Bunting, who entered the New Zealand Darts Masters as the tournament's most prominent name, suffered an early exit on the opening day when he was defeated by Australia's Raymond Smith in Auckland. The Australian delivered a dominant performance, racing to a 6-2 win over the third‑seeded Bunting, and did so without allowing his opponent to claim a single leg for the first five legs of the match.
Smith posted an impressive average of 99.81, hit 86 percent of his double attempts, and capped his victory with a spectacular 124 checkout that landed on the bullseye. After the match, a visibly thrilled Smith spoke about the significance of the win.
"It feels pretty awesome," he said. "Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I'm pretty stoked. I think I played really well.
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." His comments highlighted the growing strength of the Oceania darts circuit and the impact of increased professional opportunities for players from the region.
Smith's triumph over Bunting earns him 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 dramatic last‑leg decider in his debut on the World Series of Darts stage. The upcoming encounter promises a compelling battle between two Australians who have both demonstrated resilience and high scoring power throughout the event. Elsewhere in the draw, top‑seed Gian van Veen continued his march with a clinical 6-1 demolition of New Zealand’s World Cup representative Jonny Tata, averaging over 97.
Van Veen’s next opponent will be 2022 runner‑up Jonny Clayton, who rallied from a 4-2 deficit to overcome home favourite Haupai Puha and secure a place in the last eight. The tournament also featured a strong showing from the 2022 champion Gerwyn Price. Price breezed past New Zealand’s Mark Cleaver 6-1, setting up a quarter‑final clash with fellow Welshman Damon Heta.
Heta, after a spirited comeback that saw him win five consecutive legs, overcame Ben Robb to claim his own spot in the next round. In the other quarter‑final slots, former world champion Josh Rock will meet James Wade after both men dispatched their respective opponents – Rock beating Simon Whitlock and Wade overcoming Kayden Milne. These matches set the stage for a thrilling knockout phase that will determine who advances to the semi‑finals and ultimately the final.
The schedule for the remaining stages is as follows: the last‑16 round, played as best of 11 legs, concluded with the results listed above. The quarter‑finals, also best of 11 legs, are slated for Saturday, August 15, starting at 8 a.m.
UK time, featuring the match‑ups Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton, James Wade vs Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta, and Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek. Semi‑finals will be contested over best of 13 legs, with the final to be played as best of 15 legs.
Exact pairings for the semi‑finals will be determined after the quarter‑finals conclude. For fans looking to follow the action, darts coverage returns to Sky Sports with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix slated for broadcast from September 28 to October 4, where young talent Luke Littler will defend his title. Viewers can also stream live darts and a variety of other sports through the NOW platform, and stay updated with the latest highlights, videos, and podcasts such as the "Love the Darts" show.
Overall, the New Zealand Darts Masters has delivered a mix of surprise upsets, dominant performances, and high‑quality darts that underscore the sport’s expanding global footprint, particularly in the Oceanic region where investment and development programs are beginning to bear fruit. The upcoming quarter‑finals promise further excitement as the remaining eight competitors vie for a place in the semi‑finals and ultimately the championship title.