Raymond Smith produced the biggest upset on day one of the New Zealand Darts Masters 2026, dumping Stephen Bunting out 6-2 in Auckland and doing it with the kind of composure that can change the shape of a tournament very quickly.
Bunting arrived as the highest-profile casualty of the opening session, but Smith controlled the match with a 99.81 average, five unanswered legs and an 86 per cent finish rate. He closed it with a 124 checkout on the bullseye, a finish that underlined just how confident he looked when the game mattered most.
For Smith, it was also a personal milestone. He said it had been eight years since he last played on a PDC stage, and that return now comes with a quarter-final against Adam Leek. In a field where margins are often thin, that is a major reward for a player who handled the occasion better than the seed opposite him.
Smith made the statement of the day
Smith’s own reaction was simple enough. “It feels pretty awesome,” he said, before adding: “Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I'm pretty stoked.”
That matters because this was not just a tidy win. It was a controlled, emphatic performance against one of the more recognisable names in the draw. When a player averages just under 100, takes out a bullseye 124 and strings together five straight legs, that is not fortune. It is a performance built on timing, scoring and nerve.
Smith was also clear about where he believes that improvement has come from. “I think I played really well,” he said, pointing to the work being done in the ADA, DPNZ and ANZ Premier League as part of the build-up to these moments. He also said: “What the PDC is investing in the Oceanic region is showing in the results.”
Why the upset matters beyond one result
There is always a risk in judging a tournament after one session, but this result changes the early picture. Stephen Bunting was the headline casualty, while Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton all progressed, keeping plenty of quality in the event.
The quarter-final draw now gives the tournament an immediate sense of momentum. Gian van Veen will play Jonny Clayton, James Wade will play Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price will play Damon Heta and Raymond Smith will meet Adam Leek. Those are proper tests, and Smith’s route now becomes even more intriguing after such a convincing opening display.
There is also wider context around the season ahead. The World Grand Prix will be live on Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4, with Luke Littler set to defend the title later in September and October. For now, though, the story in Auckland belongs to Smith. He arrived after eight years away from a PDC stage and left day one having produced the result that most altered the shape of the New Zealand Darts Masters 2026.
