🔗 Share this article Stephen Bunting Weathers Significant Scare as The Indian pioneer Makes A Landmark for India. Stephen Bunting survived a monumental scare to progress into the next stage of the world darts championship on Sunday. 'The Bullet', who was a losing semi-finalist last year, was taken all the way to a final-set shootout by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki before securing a hard-fought victory at Alexandra Palace. An Eventful Battle Bunting made a flying start, posting a superb 119.4 to power through the first set. He looked in total control after hitting a spectacular 160 finish to take the second set. Nevertheless, his momentum stalled, and he won just one leg over the next two sets. This enabled Bialecki – who remained unfazed even when a wasp settled on his shoulder – to pull back. Bunting regained his composure in the decider, but was still taken to the wire before securing it 4-2. “Competing at Alexandra Palace you experience all the feelings,” Bunting stated on broadcasters. “I knew Sebastian was going to be a challenge and even at 2-0 he kept fighting. I am lucky to come through that one.” Kumar Secures Groundbreaking Win Bunting's second-round foe will be 'The Royal Bengal', who made history by becoming the first Indian winner at the championship. He beat Dutchman Richard Veenstra 3-2 in a closely-fought match. The veteran player, who had been defeated in all four of his previous first-round appearances, suggested this landmark win could have “opened the floodgates to a billion potential” darts players from his homeland. “I’m lost for words today. I’m overwhelmed, I’m delighted,” Kumar expressed. “Dream big, anything is possible. This was my dream ever since I saw Dennis Priestley win the World Championship.” He added with a light-hearted warning: “I’m sorry, a decade in the future if you have multiple players in the world championship entering to Bollywood music, you know who started it.” Further First-Round Action Darren Beveridge: The Scottish debutant made an strong start, averaging 91.62 in a one-sided 3-0 win over Belgium's 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 other newcomer defeated Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak by the same 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 overcame Germany’s Lukas Wenig 3-1. James Hurrell: Concluded the evening's play with a 3-1 victory over American Stowe Buntz.