Stephen Bunting vs Raymond Smith Prediction & Betting Tips - New Zealand Darts Masters
PDC - New Zealand Darts Masters
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by Devesh Jaganath | in Darts Predictions
The opening round of the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters will conclude with Stephen Bunting facing off against Raymond Smith on Friday morning. Smith has been exceptional in 2026, and we fancy him to push Bunting deep here, as explained in our prediction below.
Stephen Bunting made his NZ Darts Masters debut last year and reached the quarter-finals. He returns for his second appearance this week as the number three seed in the competition.
Bullet has had a disappointing season to this point, still awaiting his first major title, which is a notable dip after winning two World Series titles last year (Bahrain and Nordic Darts Masters).
Bunting lost to Josh Rock in the second round of the World Matchplay last month and has won four of his last 10 matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Raymond Smith is not a PDC Tour Card holder, but he has plenty of experience against elite opposition and has been one of Australia’s leading players for several years.
Smith has enjoyed an impressive 2026 campaign domestically. He has won two ADA titles (Events 11 and 12), while also reaching the final of Events 9 and 10 back in May.
The Aussie has won eight of his last 10 matches in all competitions. This will be his first competitive encounter against Bunting.
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Stephen Bunting - Raymond Smith Key Points
- Raymond Smith has won two ADA titles this year.
- Raymond Smith has won eight of his last 10 listed matches.
- Stephen Bunting has lost four of his last five matches.
- Stephen Bunting has only won two of his last eight matches by 2+ sets.
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Our Stephen Bunting vs Raymond Smith Prediction
While the PDC-ranked players are expected to dominate the opening round of the NZ Darts Masters, we have our concerns about Stephen Bunting, given his dip in form on the World Series circuit this year.
Bullet’s downward spiral will be a huge motivation for Raymond Smith, who arrives in this competition in arguably the best form of his life. We fancy the Aussie to give Bunting a proper run for his money in this match. Our Stephen Bunting vs Raymond Smith prediction is Raymond Smith +2.5.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
