In a stunning upset at the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters, third seed Stephen Bunting was left fuming after crashing out 6-2 to Australian qualifier Raymond Smith, accusing his opponent of “cheating” following a remarkable finishing display.
Smith, playing on a PDC stage for the first time in eight years, produced a masterclass at Spark Arena, averaging 99.81 and converting an incredible 85.71% of his double attempts . He sealed the victory with a spectacular 124 checkout on the bullseye—a shot that drew a sarcastic jibe from the victor, who joked that “no sane player” would ever attempt such a finish .
However, the highlight-reel finish only added to Bunting’s frustration. The Englishman, a former major champion, had no answer for Smith’s relentless precision, which included early breaks of throw with 92 and 90 finishes . After the match, a visibly annoyed Bunting alleged foul play, though he offered no specific details to the media regarding his accusation .
Smith brushed off the allegations, remaining focused on the magnitude of his achievement. “It feels pretty awesome. I don’t think any sane player would ever do that, but that’s the way I play, that’s the way I’ve been taught to play,” Smith quipped, referring to his bullseye finish .
The Australian credited his performance to the growing strength of the sport in the Oceania region. “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,” Smith stated, adding that the investment from the PDC in the region “is showing in the results” .
Smith will now face fellow Australian Adam Leek in the quarter-finals after Leek also produced a shock victory over Ross Smith earlier in the evening .