LITTLER OBLITERATES CAMPBELL! ☢️ Luke Littler beats Matt Campbell 6-0 in under ten minutes! 🤯 A 103.66 average from The Nuke! 👏 📺 bit.ly/US24Live #USDarts | R1
Luke Littler obliterates Matt Campbell in under 10 minutes as Jeff Smith stuns Michael Smith at US Darts Masters
PDCSaturday, 01 June 2024 at 07:08
Day One is in the books at the 2024 US Darts Masters at the incredible Madison Square Garden in New York with Luke Littler and Jeff Smith being the stars of the show in the Big Apple in reaching the Quarter-Finals.
Littler who courted as expected a lot of media attention in the run up didn't let the reams of interviews he had to do affect his preparation as he blasted past Matt Campbell in just under 10 minutes. He powered past the Canadian number one with a 103.66 average. It was an 'American Nightmare' for Campbell with Littler using the entrance music of undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes as a good omen to victory 6-0. He pinned four 180's en route to victory as he crushed the Canadian who has barely won a match on tour all year.
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Thrashings were a theme of the night. Whilst the CDC names continue to make strides, the PDC representatives showed that they are still a class apart with many easing through. Rob Cross started proceedings off by seeing off debutant Adam Sevada in the opening match of the night. He hit a 96 average and a high checkout of 122 in the process. He will now face Michael van Gerwen. The Green Machine had a tough examination on paper against Danny Lauby. But the quick pace suited the defending champion as he eased to a 6-1 win. He reeled off six consecutive legs from 1-0 down to seal the victory. Albeit he admitted post match that the performance wasn't there and that he needs to up his game against Cross.
Michael van Gerwen up and running as defending champion in the Big Apple.
The second Quarter-Final will see Luke Humphries face off against Nathan Aspinall. 'Cool Hand Luke' was the pre-cursor to Luke Littler thrashing Matt Campbell with another Canadian handed a whitewash. David Cameron, the former World Seniors Darts Master was no match for the World Number One and World Champion as Humphries sealed a 6-0 win with three 180's and a 96 average.
Nathan Aspinall who has previously won the title itself in a previous incarnation also found his way through. He eased past Stowe Buntz, the Grand Slam Quarter-Finalist 6-2 with a 95 average and 55% on the outer ring. He now faces Humphries in the second Quarter-Final.
Then it is the turn of Littler who doesn't face Michael Smith again. But he faces Jeff Smith. Like last year, it is the Canadian who impresses. He reached the final of the 2023 US Darts Masters losing to Michael van Gerwen and the North American Champion sealed a 6-1 win over 'Bully Boy'. It was a below par display from Smith with 'The Silencer' punishing him to the hilt. He pinned 6/9 on the double to move through to a clash with the 17-year-old who certainly had the crowd on his side at MSG. As well as being aided by a poor display by Matt Campbell in the process.
Jeff Smith silences poor Michael Smith to move into Quarter-Finals.
The final Quarter-Final will see Gerwyn Price take on Peter Wright. The latter perhaps was in the most bother of the night. He had to take out 100 in the deciding leg to seal a narrow 6-5 win over the tough American, Alex Spellman who out of the CDC names is one that players did not want to draw. He showed that with finishes of 150 and 167 in defeat. But it was Wright that moved through 6-5 in the end.
Jules van Dongen was another name that players wouldn't want to draw. But he lost for a second consecutive year at Madison Square Garden to Gerwyn Price. Brought onto stage with a live performance of his walk-on, Van Dongen set the tone right. But 'The Iceman' paid heed to that with a 6-3 win with six 180's en route to sealing the win. Superb from the Welshman. That is the Quarter-Final line-up complete which will be played in the early hours of Sunday morning at MSG with the champion crowned.
Aside from Jeff Smith though, it will be a PDC representative. Will it be Littler on his debut, Van Gerwen retaining or will another player in the line-up find their way to the title? Time will tell but the King of New York will soon be set.
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- Luke Littler played incredible darts yesterday in the semi-final and the final, heralding a new era of darts (along with some of the other brilliant young players who are emerging). And yet, at Luke's celebration feast, de Decker's ghost is Banquo to Littler's Macbeth, mournfully looking on.
UndartedWaters18-11-2024 - Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024
- The pundits glossing over the other factor at play in that match. They appear to be somewhat constrained in what they can say publicly.UndartedWaters16-11-2024