Stephen Bunting faced a shocking exit from the New Zealand Darts Masters on August 14, 2026, as he was eliminated in the last 16 by Raymond Smith in a decisive 6-2 victory. The match, held in Auckland, saw Smith dominate with five consecutive legs, showcasing an impressive average of 99.81 and an 86% success rate on doubles. Smith sealed his victory with a spectacular 124 checkout on the bullseye.

Smith expressed his exhilaration after the match, stating, "It feels pretty awesome. Eight years since I last played on a PDC stage, so I'm pretty stoked." He credited his success to the training and competitions in the ADA, DPNZ, and ANZ Premier League, highlighting the positive impact of PDC's investment in the Oceanic region.

As a reward for his victory over Bunting, Smith will face fellow Australian Adam Leek in the quarter-finals. Leek secured his spot after a thrilling match where he survived six match darts against Ross Smith in a last-leg decider.

In other notable matches:

• Gian van Veen, the top seed, delivered a commanding 6-1 win over New Zealand's Jonny Tata.
• Jonny Clayton staged a comeback to defeat Haupai Puha after trailing 4-2.
• Gerwyn Price, the 2022 champion, cruised past Mark Cleaver with a 6-1 scoreline.
• Damon Heta came from behind to beat Ben Robb after winning five legs in a row.

The quarter-finals will feature:

• Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton
• James Wade vs Josh Rock
• Gerwyn Price vs Damon Heta
• Raymond Smith vs Adam Leek

The tournament continues with semi-finals and finals scheduled for August 15.