Stephen Bunting, who entered the New Zealand Darts Masters as one of the tournament's most recognizable names, suffered an early exit on the opening day when he was outclassed by Australia's Raymond Smith in Auckland. The match concluded with Smith dominating the encounter, winning six legs to Bunting's two, and posting an impressive average of 99.81 while hitting 86% of his double attempts. The Australian sealed his triumph with a spectacular 124 checkout that landed on the bullseye, underlining the quality of his performance.
After the match, a visibly excited Smith spoke about his achievement, saying, "It feels pretty awesome. Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I'm pretty stoked." He went on to credit the growing strength of the Oceania darts circuit, noting that initiatives such as the Australian Darts Association (ADA), the Darts Players New Zealand (DPNZ) and the ANZ Premier League have been instrumental in preparing players for the higher‑level competition.
"What the PDC is investing in the Oceanic region is showing in the results," he added. Smith's victory propels him into the quarter‑finals where he will meet fellow Australian Adam Leek. Leek earned his spot after a dramatic debut on the World Series of Darts, surviving six match darts from Ross Smith and eventually clinching a last‑leg win. The upcoming quarter‑final promises a compelling clash between two players who have both benefited from the recent surge in support for darts across the Pacific.
Other notable results from the round of 16 included top seed Gian van Veen, who recorded a commanding 6‑1 win over New Zealand's World Cup representative Jonny Tata, averaging over 97. Van Veen now faces 2022 runner‑up Jonny Clayton after the Welshman rallied from a 4‑2 deficit to defeat local favorite Haupai Puha.
The event also saw 2022 champion Gerwyn Price cruise past Mark Cleaver with a 6‑1 scoreline, setting up a quarter‑final encounter with Damon Heta. Heta, who had been trailing earlier in his match, rallied to take five consecutive legs and ultimately overcame Ben Robb.
In the other quarter‑final brackets, Josh Rock will meet James Wade after each player dispatched Simon Whitlock and Kayden Milne respectively. Below is a summary of the last‑16 results (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 The quarter‑final schedule (also best of 11 legs) is set for Saturday, August 15, starting at 8 a.m. UK time: - Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton - James Wade vs Josh Rock - Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta - Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek The semi‑finals will be contested as best of 13 legs, with the final slated as a best of 15 legs showdown, though the specific match‑ups will be confirmed after the quarter‑finals are completed.
For fans looking to follow the action, darts coverage returns to Sky Sports with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix airing from September 28 through October 4. Luke Littler will be defending his title in that event, and viewers can also stream live darts and other top‑level sport via the NOW platform. Additionally, the Love the Darts podcast offers commentary and analysis for those who prefer audio coverage. Overall, the New Zealand Darts Masters has delivered a blend of expected dominance from top seeds and surprising upsets, exemplified by Raymond Smith's impressive run.
The tournament continues to showcase the rising standard of play in the Oceanic region, a trend that is likely to influence future PDC events and provide more opportunities for local talent to shine on the world stage.