Day One of the year’s third World Series of Darts event saw the eight PDC superstars go head-to-head against their Nordic and Baltic counterparts at the Forum Copenhagen, as Tingstrom stole the headlines.
The Swedish star survived seven match darts in accounting for Bunting, becoming only the third Nordic and Baltic representative to triumph in this event since its inception in 2021.
“I’ve had some good memories in darts, but I don’t think anything can beat this at the moment,” revealed the 25-year-old.
“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 is a showdown against 2021 champion Michael van Gerwen, who ran out a resounding 6-2 winner against two-time World Cup quarter-finalist Oskar Lukasiak in his last 16 clash.
Humphries was Friday’s outstanding performer, however, averaging 109.92 and converting six of his nine attempts at double to win through a high-quality affair against an in-form Jeffrey de Graaf.
“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,” insisted the world number two.
“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. I’ve played in about 20 or 30 and won two.
2026 Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters
Friday June 5
Round One
Jonny Clayton 6-0 Andreas Harrysson
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Darius Labanauskas
Viktor Tingstrom 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Oskar Lukasiak
James Wade 6-1 Madars Razma
Luke Littler 6-1 Cor Dekker
Luke Humphries 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf
Gian van Veen 6-3 Daniel Larsson
Saturday June 6 (1900 local time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen v Viktor Tingstrom
Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler v James Wade
Gian van Veen v Luke Humphries
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Van Gerwen/Tingstrom v Price/Clayton
Littler/Wade v Van Veen/Humphries
Best of 13 legs
Final
Best of 15 legs