Stephen Bunting, who entered the New Zealand Darts Masters as the tournament's most prominent name on the opening day, saw his campaign end abruptly in the round of 16 when he was outplayed by Australia's Raymond Smith in Auckland. Smith dominated the encounter, rattling off five consecutive legs before Bunting could answer, and ultimately secured a 6-2 win over the third‑seeded Englishman.
Smith posted an impressive average of 99.81, hit 86 percent of his double attempts, and capped the match 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 with the Australian Darts Association, DPNZ and the ANZ Premier League is setting us up for moments like this. The investment the PDC is making in the Oceania region is clearly paying off in the results." Smith’s victory earns him a quarter‑final clash with fellow Australian Adam Leek, who survived a tense encounter against Ross Smith. Leek survived six match darts before clinching the win in a final‑leg decider during his dramatic debut on the World Series of Darts stage.
Meanwhile, top seed Gian van Veen demonstrated his class by cruising to a 6-1 demolition of New Zealand’s World Cup representative Jonny Tata, posting an average above 97. Van Veen now prepares to meet 2022 runner‑up Jonny Clayton in the last eight after Clayton rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat home favourite Haupai Puha. The tournament schedule also highlighted several other notable performances. Gerwyn Price, the 2022 champion, breezed past Mark Cleaver with a 6-1 scoreline, setting up a quarter‑final showdown with Damon Heta.
Heta, in turn, produced a comeback of his own, winning five consecutive legs on the spin to overturn a deficit and defeat Ben Robb. In the other quarter‑final slots, Josh Rock will face James Wade after both men dispatched their opponents – Rock overcame Simon Whitlock, while Wade saw off Kayden Milne. The full list of last‑16 results (best of 11 legs) reads 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, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, will be contested as best‑of‑11 legs in the following match‑ups: - 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 played as best‑of‑13 legs, with the final set to be a best‑of‑15 legs contest, though the exact pairings will be confirmed after the quarter‑finals conclude. Beyond the immediate drama of the New Zealand Darts Masters, the event underscores the growing strength of darts in the Oceania region.
The collaboration between local governing bodies such as the Australian Darts Association (ADA), Darts Players New Zealand (DPNZ), and the ANZ Premier League has created a pathway for players like Raymond Smith to compete on the world stage. Their success also reflects the PDC’s strategic investment in expanding the sport’s footprint beyond its traditional strongholds in Europe. Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast the remainder of the tournament.
For those who prefer streaming, the NOW platform offers live darts coverage along with a broader selection of sports content. Additionally, listeners can tune into the "Love the Darts" podcast for in‑depth analysis, player interviews, and behind‑the‑scenes stories from the World Series circuit.
Looking ahead, the darts calendar remains packed. The BoyleSports World Grand Prix will return to Sky Sports from September 28 through October 4, with Luke Littler set to defend his title. As the season progresses, the momentum generated by up‑and‑coming talents from Australia and New Zealand promises to keep the global darts scene vibrant and competitive.
All match times are listed in UK and Ireland local time. For the most up‑to‑date results, highlights, and video clips, fans are encouraged to visit the official PDC website and the tournament’s social media channels, where comprehensive coverage and post‑match interviews are regularly posted.