Defending Auckland Masters Champion Gary Anderson was shocked by Aussie namesake Kyle on the opening night at the Trusts Arena.
The all Unicorn affair turned into a thriller and just one break of throw was enough for Kyle to complete one of the best wins of his career.
Gary didn't do a lot wrong but Kyle was full of confidence after his maiden PDC win last weekend.
The Unicorn duo of Michael Smith and James Wade made it through to the quarter-finals where they will play Corey Cadby and Daryl Gurney respectively.
The Anderson clash was terrific. Gary won the opening leg with 318 in six darts - a maximum followed by a 138 finish. Kyle held with a 13 darter and then crucially broke throw, but only after Gary missed a dart at 'tops'.
Gary later wired D15 for a 150 check-out which would have made it 4-4 and despite hitting a 12 darter to stay in it, Kyle landed a 5th 180 and won it with a 13 dart leg. He now faces an all Aussie quarter-final against Simon Whitlock.
Smith takes on talented young Australian Corey Cadby who stunned the No.2 seed Peter Wright, hitting six 180s in a deserved 6-4 victory.
But what a World Series debut for the young Unicorn star and he hit 4x180s and averaged 104 in whitewashing New Zealand No.1 Rob Szabo.
Wade is still struggling for form but it was still a crucial victory as he beat Kiwi Mark Cleaver 6-2. The highlight was a 120 finish to make it 4-1.
He only averaged 87 but that doesn't matter as he tries to play himself back into form.
Friday 1st Round results:
Michael Smith 6-0 Rob Szabo
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Rob Modra
James Wade 6-2 Mark Cleaver
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Warren Parry
Phil Taylor 6-4 Darren Herewini
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Cody Harris
Gary Anderson 4-6 Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright 4-6 Corey Cadby
Q/Finals (best of 19 legs):
Michael Smith v Corey Cadby
James Wad v Daryl Gurney
Kyle Anderson v Simon Whitlock
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Story from STUART PYKE at The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Photo courtesy Photosport / PDC
