US Darts Masters Day One Round-Up | Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price tested in New York as Jim Long stuns Josh Rock

The opening day of the US Darts Masters is in the books with only one of the PDC representatives not making it through to the final day of action at Madison Square Garden. That being Josh Rock with Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price very much pushed but through as well as Luke Humphries who defends his title.

We start with Josh Rock who was dumped out by Jim Long who has proved including just this past weekend in Bratislava that he is no mug and is a PDC Tour Card holder in his own right.

'The Gentleman' was perhaps the worst draw on paper given that he plays on the tour most weeks albeit of course through travelling and other such means in between. Long started off with a 41 checkout with Rock only able to leave 60 off 134. In the second leg, it was a lot more chances going begging as Long left 20 from 200 with a 180 but he missed initial chances to seal the leg but so did Rock to hold from both 96 and 56 and Long snatched it.

Rock broke back with a 70 checkout which meant it soon was level again albeit only after Long missed 80 for 3-1. A 180 to leave 57 for Long was timely as he went 4-3 up soon after and he kept plugging away with a 180 en route to going 5-4 up and with Rock missing both 64 and 4, it was a 54 checkout that did it for Long as he sealed a famous 6-4 win.

While for Luke Littler, it was a famously slow start from 'The Nuke' who usually takes some time to get into the tournament and this proved to be the case again as he was 4-3 down at one point to the experienced David Cameron.

But 'Excalibur' sense an opportunity but didn't take it as he went 4-3 up with a 180 and an 82 checkout but then Littler hit back on double 20 before breaking with Cameron way back on 120 eventually only after Littler missed 50 for the lead. He broke for 5-4 and then completed the feat on double 16. Not exactly simple for Littler, but he showed he has level as he often does.

Gerwyn Price too also fought off a valiant display as he took down Brayden Hall. The latter qualified as the top ranked Canadian on the CDC so obviously has pedigree but of course the top PDC names are a different kettle of fish entirely.

Price averaged 91 as he won through 6-4. He broke throw immediately for 1-0 with an 81 checkout and surged into a 2-0 lead but Hall lead 3-2 at one point as he hit a 98 checkout and 65 to seal the lead.

But Price surged ahead and broke throw on double 20 before consolidating on double four. Hall came back for a 113 flourish but in the end, Price hit 60 to seal the win. Very much a player to watch though no doubt when it comes to the North American Championship on Friday evening.

The most impressive players though perhaps were Luke Humphries to start with. He only averaged 91 but swatted aside 'Soulger' Leonard Gates who promised so much as he often does with his walk-on but was widely thrashed by 'Cool Hand Luke' who did what he needed to.

He won 6-1 and opened on double 12 before pinning double 20 to break and hold. Humphries afforded him break chances at 3-1 in the end, but he eventually pinned double eight to go ahead and then made Gates pay for that mistake as he hit double eight for 4-1.

He then consolidated on double 20 before going to the brink hitting double five for 6-1 to move through. Minimal fuss for the defending champion who on paper had one of the more rougher draws.

As did Jonny Clayton in facing Gary Mawson. 'The Mauler' who previously reached the final of the UK Open in times gone by is a quality operator but so is 'The Ferret' who produced an exhibition of finishing including his now famous 121 checkout and finger point.

He did that to go 2-0 up. Mawson responded with a 78 checkout, but Clayton went 3-1 up with a 45 checkout. He hit two 180's in a row to leave 141 but whittled it down to double 16 smashing it in for 4-1 before then consolidating after missing 118. He hit double 20 for 5-1 and then got over the line with a 56 checkout. A 98 average for Clayton who is sporting a wonderful new New York shirt and he is certainly one to watch in the Big Apple.

Gian van Veen played the aptly named Fred Krueger, but it wasn't a Nightmare on Elm Street. More of a stroll in the park if anything. LIke some of the others, it was an early 90's average without pulling up too many trees.

He went 3-1 up on double 10 to break and then hit 125 to hold for 4-1. He headed towards the finish as a result then hitting double 20 for 5-1 before then closing the door on double four to seal it 6-1. James Wade is also through in a typical war of attrition as he saw off Adam Sevada 6-3.

On paper another of those draws that none of the players wanted. By far and away the best US player right now and a handy operator, but he averaged 77 and it was a bit of a slog against Wade who himself only averaged 82. But you could say it was a typical Wadey display. He often has this formula as Dan Dawson coined it of averaging just a few points more than his opponent and that is the case again with an 82.

It started so well for Wade and then it became a bit of an arduous task. He hit 180's in back-to-back legs hitting a 144 and 80 checkout to break and hold. He then broke again with a 46. Even when it was a hard leg in which he gave Sevada a gift wrapped chance to eventually win it and break, he still went to the brink at 5-1.

But again, he should've sealed the deal there and then and he didn't as he had the tie prolonged due to missed darts at double before eventually he found a combo finish of 82 to claim it.

Finally Stephen Bunting eased past Alex Spellman 6-2. Again like most of the PDC pro's, it was a 90 average or thereabouts for 'The Bullet'. Not incredible but not needed. He went 2-0 up hitting double eight to break and then consolidated on 64.

Spellman hit a 180 to leave double 20 but still gave Bunting chances to go 4-0 up, but he would go 4-1 up with a 52 checkout. Bunting went one away on 64 averting late 180 pressure before then hitting 68 to break after Spellman missed 124 on the bull and then the 25 follow up.