Canadian Jeff Smith demonstrated the benefit of experience as he secured the CDC’s inaugural Cross-Border Challenge in Jersey City on Saturday.
Former World Cup quarter-finalist Smith won 16 consecutive legs in scooping the title at the historic White Eagle Hall, with a whitewash victory over his compatriot Jim Long in the final, having also dispatched Jules van Dongen and Steve Warnock on Finals Day.
The 16-player event pitted eight American representatives against their Canadian counterparts across two days of competition, and it was Smith and his countrymen who ran out resounding winners.
The New Brunswick thrower kicked off his campaign with victory over 1994 World Matchplay champion Larry Butler in Friday’s first round, taking out two ton-plus finishes to seal a 4-2 success.
The 47-year-old then produced the performance of the tournament in his quarter-final demolition of Van Dongen, averaging 96 to complete a whitewash victory.
Smith continued his charge with a five-leg blitz of Warnock in the semi-finals, confirming his progress with a sublime 124 checkout.
This set up a showdown against former World Championship qualifier Long in Saturday’s showpiece, which saw The Silencer breeze to victory in six straight legs to clinch the $5,000 top prize.
Long had edged out his fellow countryman Keith Way in the quarter-finals, and he reeled off five legs without reply to celebrate a 5-2 victory over Jacob Taylor in the last four.
Taylor accounted for CDC Continental Cup winner Alex Spellman in the last eight, while Warnock overcame the enigmatic John Norman Jr before succumbing to eventual champion Smith.
A place in the bet365 US Darts Masters and North American Championship was on offer to the winner this weekend, although Smith was already assured of his spot in New York as a PDC Tour Card Holder.
As runner-up in this year’s event, Long has been awarded a spot for the 2023 tournament, where he will be joined by Van Dongen and Spellman.
Canadian number one Matt Campbell – who was competing on the PDC European Tour in Graz over the weekend – will also feature at Madison Square Garden from June 2-3.
2023 CDC Cross-Border Challenge
White Eagle Hall, Jersey City
Friday, April 21
First Round
Keith Way 4-3 Joey Lynaugh
Jim Long 4-3 Chuck Puleo
Jacob Taylor 4-1 Gary Mawson
Alex Spellman 4-3 John Part
Jules van Dongen 4-3 David Cameron
Jeff Smith 4-2 Larry Butler
Steve Warnock 4-1 Leonard Gates
John Norman Jnr 4-1 Danny Lauby
Saturday April 22
Quarter-Finals
Jim Long 5-4 Keith Way
Jacob Taylor 5-3 Alex Spellman
Jeff Smith 5-0 Jules van Dongen
Steve Warnock 5-3 John Norman Jnr
Semi-Finals
Jim Long 5-2 Jacob Taylor
Jeff Smith 5-0 Steve Warnock
Final
Jeff Smith 6-0 Jim Long
—–ENDS—–
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