🔗 Share this article 'The Bullet' Weathers Significant Scare while 'The Royal Bengal' Secures A Landmark for India. Stephen Bunting survived a monumental scare to move into the next stage of the prestigious tournament on the opening weekend. Bunting, who was a losing semi-finalist last year, was forced all the way to a deciding tie-breaker by Polish qualifier Sebastian Bialecki before finally clinching a 3-2 victory at Alexandra Palace. An Eventful Match Bunting stormed out of the blocks, averaging an incredible 119.4 to power through the first set. Victory seemed assured after checking out a spectacular 160 finish to seize the second set. However, his momentum stalled, and he won just one leg over the next two sets. This enabled Bialecki – who remained oblivious even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to pull back. Bunting steadied himself in the final set, but was still taken to the wire before taking it 4-2. “Performing at Ally Pally you feel all the feelings,” Bunting explained to Sky Sports. “I was aware Sebastian was going to be difficult and even at 2-0 he never surrendered. I am lucky to get away with that one.” Kumar Creates Historic Win Bunting's second-round foe will be 'The Royal Bengal', who made history by becoming the pioneering Indian at the championship. He defeated the Netherlands' Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a closely-fought match. The 40-year-old, who had lost in all four of his prior first-round appearances, remarked this landmark win could have “created a pathway to a billion” darts players from India. “I don’t know today. I’m ecstatic, I’m happy,” Kumar stated. “Dream big, anything is possible. I’ve dreamed of this ever since I watched Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.” He concluded with a humorous warning: “I’m sorry, a decade from now if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Bollywood music, you know who started it.” Further Opening Day Results Darren Beveridge: The Scotland's debutant made an strong start, averaging 91.62 in a dominant 3-0 win over Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh, who managed just one leg. Jonny Tata: Another debutant, from New Zealand, dashed the hopes of world No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse with a resounding 3-0 victory. Dom Taylor: The other newcomer defeated Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 3-0 margin. Joe Cullen: The world No. 32 was in fine fettle as he comfortably defeated Bradley Brooks 3-0. Wesley Plaisier: The Dutch player beat Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1. James Hurrell: Rounded off the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over America’s Stowe Buntz.