Mixed fortunes as Littler, Humphries and Van Gerwen surge through after shock US Darts Masters losses for Cross and Bunting
PDC
The opening night of action at the US Darts Masters is complete with mixed success for the top PDC names as Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price all move through. But there was also multiple shock defeats as North American stars make their way through.
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To start the night though it was a debutant who managed to find his way through to the Quarter-Finals as Damon Heta made good on his World Series of Darts opportunity. 'The Heat' made a name for himself in these tournaments back home winning in Brisbane before becoming a pro player and now he is back as a member of the darting elite.
In facing Long, it was potentially a tricky test as the Canadian of course is a Tour Card holder but the Aussie ace danced on stage post match as he wrapped up a 6-1 victory. His darting display of prowess was a bit of a marvel to behold as he sealed a double break with a 16-darter pinning double 20 then producing a superb 11-dart leg to lead 5-1 before sealing the deal.
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Double American success as defending champion and top seed bundled out
But his next opponent won't be Stephen Bunting. Jason Brandon who will be familiar to those who watched the Lakeside this past December is through to the Quarter-Finals.
Bunting was top seed in this tournament by virtue of his superb streak on the World Series but that did not continue on Friday night as Brandon sealed a 6-4 win. He broke throw after Bunting had missed darts to hold. He hit double 10 to make it 2-1. Bunting hit back with a big fish as he pinned a 170 checkout to put himself one leg behind Brandon in the end at 4-3 down.
The American though had always kept himself at arms length and despite missing 126 for the win initially on the bull, he returned for double 16 as Brandon stood on the stage in disbelief at what he'd just achieved. Not the New York campaign that 'The Bullet' wanted that's for sure.
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| Stephen Bunting | VS | Jason Brandon |
|---|---|---|
| 91.85 | Average (3 Darts) | 86.4 |
| 11 | 100+ Thrown | 9 |
| 8 | 140+ Thrown | 7 |
| 1 | 180 Thrown | 1 |
| 170 | Highest Checkout | 97 |
| 1 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 40 | Checkout percentage | 42.9 |
| 4 / 10 | Checkout | 6 / 14 |
This though was perhaps buoyed by what Danny Lauby had done in the match prior. The fast throwing America punished Rob Cross to the hilt with the defending champion being dumped out in a brutal whitewash win 6-0.
The pressure told early as Cross was broken with a superb 118 checkout from Lauby. The trouble continued as Cross missed chance after chance to hold and Lauby escaped up the road with yet another break for 4-0.
It was then confirmed as Lauby hit an 11-darter to seal a famous whitewash win over Cross who was wanting to kick on after a few weeks off post the tax issues that dogged the headlines but in reality, it seems there is still a lot more work to do as his return to the Big Apple did not gleam anywhere near the same result.
Price, Littler and Aspinall lead from the front
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Albeit despite those names finding their way out of the tournament at the first hurdle, there was job for the top names starting with Gerwyn Price.
Price eased past Adam Sevada 6-2 and looked good in the process. 'The Iceman' Price had been laid up in bed unwell the weekend before and couldn't play an exhibition but made light work of his opponent.
He hit a superb 11-darter on double 18 to kick off at 2-1 before cementing breathing space. He was averaging towards 105 while his opponent was barely over the 70 mark and Price streaked away. He hit double 10 eventually for a 13-dart salvo and broke for 4-2.
He also nearly hit the nine again as he went seven darts into a perfect leg but despite not hitting it, he surged into a 5-2 lead. Averaging upwards of 102, he sealed a 6-2 win.
Gerwyn Price looked superb in Sevada win.
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Luke Littler was facing Jules van Dongen who always faced a bit of a battle due to an arm problem which has dogged 'The Dutch Dragon' giving him dartitis problems. He has barely played on tour and has said that he will likely give up the sport.
He has had to learn to play with his other arm even in a bid to try and prolong it but while it was only a 73 average, Van Dongen did not disgrace himself as 'The Nuke' sealed a 6-1 win.
Van Dongen opened his account at 3-1 down but Littler turned on the afterburners and managed to claim it 6-1 hitting an exhibition style three double 20 120 checkout to seal the win and move through. Returning to the Big Apple as the World Champion, he averts what could've been a tough first round test in terms of what state the Van Dongen game was at.
Nathan Aspinall was the 2019 champion in this tournament and faced one of the trickier first round examinations against Matt Campbell. But he managed to pass it with flying colours 6-2.
He opened up with a superb 81 checkout for an 11-darter. He hit the same to break for 2-0 but Campbell broke back for 2-1. 'The Asp' bided his time though and hit a 68 checkout for 4-2. He held throw with a 68 checkout for 5-2 before sealing the win 6-2 with an 88 checkout on double 14. He now takes on stablemate Littler in the Quarter-Finals. The winner faces Brandon or Heta for a spot in the final.
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Humphries and MVG seal final Quarter-Final spots
Finally Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen soared into the Quarter-Finals with wins over two of the toughest operators in Stowe Buntz and Leonard Gates.
Humphries now has Danny Lauby in his sights which could be a quick smooth throwing game to watch. He saw off 'The Neon Nightmare' Stowe Buntz. Opening up he broke after a tentative start for 2-1. He followed it up with a hold but it was Buntz who led from there as he broke and held for 4-3 up. He pinned an epic 127 checkout for 3-3 to put Humphries in trouble before holding with a 74 checkout.
But Humphries recomposed and hit double 20 from a 56 checkout for 4-4 before he broke as Buntz missed 123 on the bull for a hold. He then sealed it 6-4 on double 18. Far from vintage Cool Hand but enough to win.
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Back with a new look and impetus it was superb from MVG on opening night.
While Michael van Gerwen was always going to be an interesting conundrum given that the Dutch darting juggernaut has not played in around a month since the divorce from his long-time wife Daphne was confirmed.
Returning with a new look and weight lost, he faced Leonard Gates who is of course a well known top American star. But for those wanting MVG back with a bang and with a point to prove got exactly that as he took down Gates 6-1 averaging just shy of 100.
He lost his throw early at 1-0 down with a 76 checkout for 'Soulger' but he managed to break back immediately for 1-1. He held throw on double 20 for 2-1 with Gates sat on 58 albeit only a 16-darter for MVG.
But he showed his true class as he hit a 128 checkout for 3-1 before hitting 47 to hold and make it 4-1. The race was nearly run as Gates could only pressure 141 and MVG returned for 5-1. He sealed it in style with a 108 checkout using treble 20 and double 20 sandwiched with a single eight in between. He faces Gerwyn Price tomorrow.
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| Michael Van Gerwen | VS | Leonard Gates |
|---|---|---|
| 99.63 | Average (3 Darts) | 90.33 |
| 11 | 100+ Thrown | 8 |
| 3 | 140+ Thrown | 2 |
| 1 | 180 Thrown | 2 |
| 128 | Highest Checkout | 76 |
| 2 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 60 | Checkout percentage | 50 |
| 6 / 10 | Checkout | 1 / 2 |
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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.
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