Michael van Gerwen may have become King of New York, but Jeff Smith emerged with probably the most credit from the US Darts Masters.
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This despite a whitewash defeat to the Green Machine as The Silencer ran out of steam against the in-form Dutchman.
But his victory over Nathan Aspinall in particular will live long in the memory with an epic 167 to win. This after he also took honours in the North American Darts Championship earlier in the day.
"I'm so thankful for every one of you guys out in the crowd because you guys pushed me all day. Unbelievable," said Smith post match.
"I've had some close calls with Nathan in the past but to pin that 167 man was awesome," he continued on that superb tie with Aspinall.
But can this be a springboard for Smith who by his own admission has struggled on the tour albeit at times, he has had to deal with horrific travel issues which have prevented him playing his best.
"I'm not going anywhere, I'm one of the best players in North America and I know that. I'm one of the best players in the world when I want to be."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
🗣️ "Madison Square Garden is where all the biggest sports starts have competed - and that is where you want to win. Luckily for me, today was that day"
Hear from a very humbled Michael van Gerwen following his victory in the most iconic venue in the world...