🔗 Share this article The Merseyside thrower Survives Significant Fright as 'The Royal Bengal' Secures History for Indian Darts. Stephen Bunting edged through a tense battle to move into the next stage of the prestigious tournament on the opening weekend. Bunting, who reached beaten semi-finalist last year, was taken all the way to a deciding tie-breaker by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a 3-2 victory at the iconic Ally Pally venue. A Rollercoaster Encounter Bunting made a flying start, averaging an incredible 119.4 to power through the first set. Victory seemed assured after checking out a spectacular 160 finish to take the second set. Yet, ‘The Bullet’ cooled off, and he managed just one leg over the subsequent two sets. This let Bialecki – who remained unfazed even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to pull back. Bunting found his rhythm in the decider, but was still taken to the wire before winning it 4-2. “When you are playing at Alexandra Palace you feel all the emotions,” Bunting stated on Sky Sports. “I knew Sebastian was going to be tough and even at 2-0 he never surrendered. I am fortunate to get away with that one.” Kumar Makes Landmark Win Bunting's second-round foe will be Nitin Kumar, who made history by becoming the initial victor from India at the championship. He overcame the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a closely-fought match. The 40-year-old, who had been defeated in all four of his previous first-round appearances, suggested this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion potential” darts players from his homeland. “I’m lost for words at this moment. I’m overwhelmed, I’m delighted,” Kumar expressed. “With belief, anything is achievable. This was my dream ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.” He concluded with a light-hearted warning: “I’m sorry, ten years down the line if you have multiple players in the world championship walking on to Indian film songs, you know who started it.” Other Opening Day Action Darren Beveridge: The Scottish debutant made an convincing start, averaging 91.62 in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh, who won just one leg. Jonny Tata: Another first-timer, from New Zealand, ended the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a clear 3-0 victory. Dom Taylor: The fellow newcomer beat Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the identical 3-0 margin. Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in good form as he eased past Bradley Brooks 3-0. Wesley Plaisier: The Dutch player beat Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1. James Hurrell: Concluded the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over America’s Stowe Buntz.