Bunting stunned by Smith in New Zealand Darts Masters upset

Stephen Bunting suffers shock first-round exit at the New Zealand Darts Masters, losing 6-2 to Raymond Smith in Auckland, after Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton all progressed; watch the World Grand Prix live from September 28 on Sky Sports

Friday 14 August 2026 13:05, UK

Stephen Bunting was the highest-profile casualty on day one of the New Zealand Darts Masters as he was dumped out of the last 16 by Raymond Smith in Auckland.

Smith reeled off five unanswered legs en route to a 6-2 victory over third seed Bunting, averaging 99.81 and converting 86 per cent of his attempts at a double and notably sealing victory with a 124 checkout on the bullseye.

"It feels pretty awesome," Smith 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."

Smith's reward for beating Bunting is a quarter-final tie against fellow Australian Adam Leek, who survived six match darts against Ross Smith before securing victory in a last-leg decider on his dramatic World Series of Darts debut.

Top seed Gian van Veen averaged more than 97 in a 6-1 demolition of New Zealand's World Cup star Jonny Tata.

The Dutch No 1 will now take on 2022 runner-up Jonny Clayton in the last eight after the Welshman overturned a 4-2 deficit to defeat home favourite Haupai Puha.

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Gerwyn Price, the 2022 champion, breezed past Mark Cleaver 6-1 to set up a quarter-final tie with Damon Heta, who reeled off five legs on the spin to come from behind and beat Ben Robb.

Josh Rock and James Wade also meet in the quarter-finals after overcoming Simon Whitlock and Kayden Milne, respectively.

2026 SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters

Schedule of Play

Last 16 (best of 11 legs)Gerwyn Price 6-1 Mark CleaverRoss Smith 5-6 Adam LeekJames Wade 6-0 Kayden MilneJosh Rock 6-4 Simon WhitlockGian van Veen 6-1 Jonny TataJonny Clayton 6-5 Haupai PuhaDamon Heta 6-4 Ben RobbStephen Bunting 2-6 Raymond Smith

Saturday August 15 (from 8am)

Quarter-finals (best of 11 legs)Gian van Veen vs Jonny ClaytonJames Wade vs Josh RockGerwyn Price vs Damon HetaRaymond Smith vs Adam Leek

Semi-finals (best of 13 legs)TBC

Final (best of 15 legs)TBC

Darts returns to Sky Sports with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix live from September 28 to October 4, where Luke Littler will be out to defend the title. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.

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