Stephen Bunting was given a huge scare before defeating Germany’s Kai Gotthardt 3-1 in the first round at the Darts World Championship.
Bunting, the reigning Masters champion, narrowly escaped falling 2-0 behind after Gotthardt missed three attempts at double eight and instead the eighth seed levelled the match at 1-1 before cruising to victory.
Gotthardt had made a flying start, landing a hat-trick of 180s and nailing all three of his attempts at double to secure the opening set.
The moment The Bullet confirmed his spot in the third round. 🎥#WCDarts | @sbunting180 pic.twitter.com/sTPOAr1u2H
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 20, 2024
But Bunting took full advantage of his second-set reprieve, winning the last seven legs to secure a second-round match against Dirk van Duijvenbode or Madars Razma.
Filipino Sandro Eric Sosing, a back-to-back PDC Asian Championship finalist in 2023 and 2024, earlier withdrew from his first-round match against Ian White for medical reasons after feeling unwell during practice.
The PDC said: “Sandro Eric Sosing has withdrawn from his match with Ian White on medical grounds.
🗣️ "That was probably the craziest match I have ever played!"
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 20, 2024
Wessel Nijman looks back on his five-set thriller against Cameron Carolissen, which sets up a fascinating tussle against Joe Cullen!#WCDarts pic.twitter.com/Rd0qtRax8v
“Sosing reported chest pains whilst practicing and following an on site assessment by medical staff he has been taken for further treatment.”
Dutchman Alexander Merkx made it a memorable tournament debut by defeating Stephen Burton 3-0 to reach the second round, while fellow countryman Wessel Nijmen won his first match at the Alexandra Palace.
Nijman, a heavy favourite against Cameron Carolissen, was forced to dig deep before clinching a final-leg decider to edge through 3-2 against the South African and book a second-round match against Joe Cullen.
