Former Winner Smith Sent Packing as Emotional Bunting Marches On

World Darts Championship Upset

In a shocking turn of events, former World Darts Championship winner Michael Smith was knocked out of the tournament by Dutchman Niels Zonneveld in a 3-1 victory. This defeat marks a disappointing end to Smith’s campaign, who has been struggling to recapture his form since winning the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2023.

Emotional Bunting Shines

In a contrasting display, Stephen Bunting put on an emotional performance as he marched through to the third round with a 3-0 win over Nitin Kumar. Bunting, known for his passionate and dedicated fan base, was visibly moved when discussing the negative social media reaction he had received prior to the match.

Other Notable Results

Other notable results from the World Darts Championship include:
* Chris Dobey’s 3-1 loss to Andrew Gilding, marking the highest-ranked player to be eliminated so far
* Jonny Clayton’s walkover victory due to Dom Taylor’s suspension
* Dave Chisnall’s 2-3 loss to Ricardo Pietreczko

Quotes from the Players

Niels Zonneveld expressed his delight at his victory, stating, “That means the world. This is the thing I dreamed of since I was a boy. It’s such a good feeling.” Meanwhile, Stephen Bunting reflected on the social media backlash he had faced, saying, “I look at social media and I’ve had some stick. I made a comment in the media saying I’m the People’s Champion. I’m not saying I’m the People’s Champion. I was just talking about what was said and I’ve had a lot of stick over that.”

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