The opening night of the Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters delivered an electrifying start, highlighted by a monumental upset: Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom, an unseeded underdog, sensationally knocked out the defending champion, Stephen Bunting. While Tingstrom stole the headlines with his incredible composure under pressure, world number two Luke Humphries also captivated the audience with a dazzling performance, showcasing why he’s one of the sport’s elite. Top players like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, and Gerwyn Price also secured their spots in the next round, setting the stage for an unmissable Finals Day.
Underdog Viktor Tingstrom Stuns Defending Champion Stephen Bunting
The Forum Copenhagen witnessed an unforgettable moment as Viktor Tingstrom, a 25-year-old Swede, achieved the most significant upset of the Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters’ opening night. In a thrilling encounter, Tingstrom faced defending champion Stephen Bunting and emerged victorious, much to the surprise of many. This monumental win makes him only the third player from the Nordic and Baltic regions ever to secure a victory in this competition since its inception in 2021.
Tingstrom’s victory was a testament to his incredible resilience. He withstood no less than seven match darts from Bunting before finally sealing his own win. His post-match comments reflected his joy and relaxed approach:
- “I’ve had some good memories in darts, but I don’t think anything can beat this at the moment.”
- “To be the third Nordic & Baltic player ever through in this tournament, happy days.”
- “I just came here trying to enjoy it. I don’t put too much pressure on myself. I don’t have any pressure on me.”
Tingstrom’s reward for this stunning performance is a challenging quarter-final clash against the formidable Michael van Gerwen, the Dutch darts legend and champion of the inaugural event five years ago. Van Gerwen secured his spot with a convincing 6-2 win over Danish representative Oskar Lukasiak.
Humphries Delivers Dazzling Performance; Other Stars Advance
While Tingstrom’s heroics captured the spotlight, Luke Humphries delivered arguably the most impressive performance of the evening. The world number two showcased his exceptional form, registering an outstanding 109.92 average and hitting six out of nine attempts at double. He comfortably subdued the in-form Jeffrey de Graaf in a match filled with high-quality darts.
Humphries shared his confidence after the match:
- “I felt good there. The last four to five weeks I’ve felt a lot more comfortable in my throw and I feel like I can play this level a lot more often.”
- “It just gives you confidence. I’ve had so many 100+ averages, so many good performances, and my doubles have been better.”
- “One thing that I’m probably guilty of is not winning many World Series events in my career… but if I keep playing like that, then I’m going to stand a good chance.”
Humphries will now face reigning European Champion Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals. Van Veen also impressed, including a majestic 167 finish during his 6-3 victory over Daniel Larsson.
Thrilling Encounters and Quarter-Final Line-Up
The opening night also set up an exciting all-Welsh showdown for Finals Day, as Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price both navigated their first-round matches, albeit in contrasting styles.
- Jonny Clayton began his campaign in spectacular fashion, whitewashing Andreas Harrysson 6-0 with a remarkable 104.86 average and hitting three-quarters of his doubles.
- Gerwyn Price, on the other hand, endured a much tougher battle. Despite averaging over 104 himself and hitting big finishes of 120, 128, and 156, he was pushed to a pulsating deciding leg by Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas. This match was a checkout festival, featuring six three-figure finishes, with Labanauskas contributing three of his own and narrowly missing a match dart at double 16.
Other notable results included:
- James Wade marked his return to the World Series stage with a clinical 6-1 victory over Madars Razma, setting up an enticing quarter-final against the reigning World Champion.
- Teenage sensation Luke Littler mirrored Wade’s 6-1 scoreline against Cor Dekker, showcasing his devastating form with a sumptuous 129 checkout. Littler is looking to add the Nordic Darts Masters title to his growing list of achievements.
Quarter-Finals Schedule for Saturday, June 6th (19:00 local time, 18:00 BST):
- Michael van Gerwen v Viktor Tingstrom
- Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton
- Luke Littler v James Wade
- Gian van Veen v Luke Humphries
The 2026 Nordic Darts Masters will conclude on Saturday evening at the Forum Copenhagen, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final promising a compelling end to another memorable World Series event.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
