SMITH & CAMPBELL TO RENEW RIVALRY AT NORTH AMERICAN DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jeff Smith, nicknamed ‘The Silencer’, will begin his defence of the bet365 North American Championship against top seed Matt Campbell on Saturday, in a repeat of last year’s final.
The $25,000 tournament will be played on Saturday afternoon in the Theater at Madison Square Garden, as the sport’s leading North American stars compete for the $10,000 first prize and a place in the World Darts Championship and Grand Slam of Darts.
Reigning champion Smith – also a US Darts Masters runner-up in 2023 – will return to defend his title in the Big Apple, after winning through the CDC Qualifiers earlier this month.
The 48-year-old will take on his former World Cup partner Campbell in a fascinating first round tussle, after edging out his compatriot 6-5 to take the title 12 months ago.
Second seed Danny Lauby will open his title tilt against debutant Adam Sevada, who finished above three-time World Champion John Part and 2022 North American Champion Leonard Gates via legs difference on the CDC Qualifiers Order of Merit.
Elsewhere, World Cup star Jules van Dongen will meet Grand Slam quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz in an all-American affair, while CDC Cross Border Challenge winner Alex Spellman faces Canadian veteran David Cameron.
The tournament will feature the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in one session on Saturday June 1 (1300 EST), with all games being played over the best of 11 legs.
The bet365 North American Championship will be broadcast live through DAZN in the US and Canada, as well as in various other worldwide territories and exclusively in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Other live global coverage will be broadcast through Viaplay in various territories including the Netherlands, as well as via PDCTV in all countries outside Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
2024 bet365 North American Championship
Draw Bracket
(1) Matt Campbell v Jeff Smith
Alex Spellman v David Cameron
(2) Danny Lauby v Adam Sevada
(3) Jules van Dongen v Stowe Buntz
Schedule of Play
Saturday June 1 (1300 EST)
Quarter-Finals
Matt Campbell v Jeff Smith
Alex Spellman v David Cameron
Danny Lauby v Adam Sevada
Jules van Dongen v Stowe Buntz
Semi-Finals
Campbell/Smith v Spellman/Cameron
Lauby/Sevada v Van Dongen/Buntz
Final
v
All games – best of 11 legs
*Note: Under PDC Rule 3.9, should Matt Campbell (third year of Tour Card) win the North American Championship, he would not be eligible to qualify for the World Darts Championship or Grand Slam of Darts.
In this instance, the qualifying place would be awarded to a further Championship Darts Corporation representative, with details to be confirmed in due course.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Ed Mulholland/PDC
