Nordic Darts Masters Friday evening Round-Up | Defending champion Bunting downed as Littler, Humphries, Price and Van Gerwen surge through

The Nordic Darts Masters takes place on Friday, 5 June, and Saturday, 6 June. We concluded the first round before the latter stages tomorrow with Littler, Humphries, Van Gerwen, and co moving through after beating the best of Nordic and Baltic stars.

Albeit for Stephen Bunting, who was defending champion, he was knocked out of the tournament by Viktor Tingstrom in a 6-5 win after he won the title in Copenhagen last year.

Tingstrom hit the front but Bunting was back with a 140 checkout at 1-1. Tingstrom went 3-1 up. He hit 68 and double six to make it halfway to the finish. A 119 checkout from Bunting and he was now at 3-3 after Tingstrom led 3-1.

Bunting broke, albeit with a 20-darter for 4-3, and he was now throwing to go one away. Bunting hit a double 10 to go one away from the Quarter-Finals. Tingstrom responded with double six and hit the same target after Bunting forced a decider.

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries also sped through their opening ties. Littler saw off Cor Dekker 6-1. A 129 opener and 64 checkout sent Dekker into a 2-0 lead early on. A 56 checkout and Dekker hit back to hold. Littler breaks here, and he has pinned 99 after Dekker missed 70 to go 4-1 up. Littler sealed the win from there, pinning double 20 to seal it, hitting a 93 average.

Humphries claimed a 6-3 win over the most recent winner of a ProTour in Jeffrey de Graaf who won again this past week. 'Cool Hand Luke' led 1-0 to start pinning a steady 13-darter on double 20.

Humphries hit a double eight to make it 2-2. But De Graaf hit double nine and was aiming for the lead from there. Humphries broke with an 89 checkout to go 3-2 up, and he pinned double 16 to go 4-2 up. Humphries pinned double 16, and he led 5-2, and he was one away from the finishing line. Humphries threw for it, leading 5-3 after De Graaf hit 54 to hold.

Humphries pinned double 12 to win it, though 6-3. Michael van Gerwen is also through, albeit he wasn't at his best as he saw off Oskar Lukasiak 6-2.

A break and an 117 checkout to hold, and Van Gerwen had the impetus. Lukasiak held with a 76 checkout and had darts to break as Van Gerwen struggled to hold. Van Gerwen finally snared the hold, hitting double four for a 29 darter. He led 3-1. Lukasiak hit back with a 52 checkout, although it was only to hold as he sat 3-2 behind. Van Gerwen broke to go 5-2 up on double four.

A 52 checkout from MVG as he survived pressure from Lukasiak. While the Welsh wizards Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton won through, 'The Ferret' shone brighter, thrashing Andreas Harrysson.

He hit a near 105 average to win 6-0. Clayton hit a 70 checkout and 58 to break and produced his signature finger point for his signature 121 checkout for 4-0. He then ended it off on double 12 and double 16 with top draw finishing throughout.

While Gerwyn Price survived a real scare as he took down Darius Labanauskas. Price led 2-0 breaking with an 85 checkout for the lead. He then pinned 120 to go 3-1 up sealing the win.

Labanauskas was back for double 10 to make it 3-2 and had now held for 3-3. An incredible 158 to went 4-3 up for Price. A 128 checkout from Price but a 130 checkout by Labanauskas and he sent it all the way to a decider here. Price survived a scare as Labanauskas was sent packing missing 65 for the win. Price returned for 120 to seal the win.

James Wade is also through taking down Madars Razma and was one of the most impressive victors. Wade led 3-0 breaking with a 56 checkout and followed it up with a 44 checkout. Wade is officially one away. He broke with a 120 checkout. A 6-1 win over Madars Razma with a 76 checkout.

While Gian van Veen claimed the win to end the night. He opened up against Daniel Larsson. He went two away from the win early. He has pinned double eight for 2-0. Then an 18-darter on double four for 4-1.

Larsson broke back with a 68 checkout but Van Veen went one away with a 62 checkout. The Dutchman hit a 167 checkout to conclude an epic win.