Nitin Kumar etched his name in sporting history on Sunday, becoming the first Indian competitor to claim a victory at the PDC World Darts Championship. The 40-year-old, nicknamed "The Royal Bengal," secured a dramatic 3-2 win against Dutch rival Richard Veenstra at London's Alexandra Palace.
Kumar, who had previously lost four consecutive first-round matches at the event, showcased clinical precision with a 75% checkout success rate. Despite Veenstra's higher-scoring performance—including a spectacular 144 finish—Kumar's consistency under pressure sealed his place in the last 64.
"I'm overwhelmed and happy," Kumar told reporters. "If you dream it, anything is possible. I've envisioned this moment since watching Dennis Priestley's 1994 triumph."
The victory carries significance beyond the oche, as Kumar hopes to inspire a darts revolution in his homeland. "I've opened the floodgates to a billion people," he joked. "In 10 years, if eight Indians walk out to Bollywood music here, don't blame me!"
Tournament Highlights
Three-time BDO champion Glen Durrant praised the match on Sky Sports, calling it "one of the greatest games I've commentated on," emphasizing its potential impact on Indian darts.
Elsewhere in the tournament:
- World No. 27 Ritchie Edhouse suffered a shock 3-0 defeat to debutant Jonny Tata
- 32nd seed Joe Cullen dominated Bradley Brooks 3-0 with a 99.33 average
- English newcomer Dom Taylor progressed with a 114-checkout highlight against Sweden's Oskar Lukasiak
Sunday's Evening Fixtures
Kumar could face fourth seed Stephen Bunting next, who meets Sebastian Bialecki later. Other matchups include:
- Lukas Wenig vs Wesley Plaisier
- Dimitri van den Bergh (23) vs Darren Beveridge
- James Hurrell vs Stowe Buntz
The historic win adds to a tournament already filled with memorable moments, following 71-year-old Paul Lim's record-setting victory earlier in the week.
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