Shocks galore as Michael Smith and Wright dumped out on opening night of US Darts Masters, Van Gerwen and Price ease through

PDC
Saturday, 03 June 2023 at 07:30
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Through the night, the US Darts Masters began at Madison Square Garden in New York with Michael Smith and Peter Wright the two main casualties.
Smith was knocked out by Canadian veteran, Jim Long who has previously played at the World Darts Championship and World Cup of Darts.
It was a career-best display as he defied five 180s from the World Number One to dispatch him 6-2. Stealing the show himself with three 180s and checkouts of 97 and 115, he will now face Michael van Gerwen in the last eight.
Another shock involving a Canadian was Wright's loss as Tour Card holder, Jeff Smith accounted for 'Snakebite' in a 6-2 defeat.
Wright sported an entire change of grip as well as a new set of darts and was punished to the hilt by Smith who took out 108 to move towards the brink before defying an 11-darter to move through.
For Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen though, it was much more smooth sailing.
Price averaged 105 to demolish Jules van Dongen 6-1 featuring two 12 darters and finishing it off with a superb 105 checkout using two double 20's.
While Van Gerwen saw off debutant Jake Macmillan who had a confident start against the Green Machine but in the end, it was a superb win for the recent Premier League champion.
He concluded it with a 141 checkout and now will face Jim Long in the Quarter-Finals in the early hours of Sunday morning.

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