In recent years, darts has taken the metaphorical bullseye by the horns across the pond, with its popularity steadily rising among our friends in the United States.
The riddle of how to turn what is thought of as a merely a pastime, in one of the worlds biggest markets, into a successful professional and commercial sport, has proven something of a quest for the holy grail for those who champion darts.
But, the last few years has seen the Professional Darts Corporation re set and re promoted its version of elite darts mixed with fantastic entertainment. The PDC has been supporting grassroots affiliates whilst using an annual visit of its World Series as a heavily promoted shop window.
North America now boasts a thriving circuit in the form of the Championship Darts Corporation (CDC), offering the continent’s finest the chance to grace the hallowed stage of Alexandra Palace and compete in the PDC World Championship.
Each year, the best players on the planet head Stateside for the US Darts Masters, where they face off against the cream of North American talent. First launched in 2017, this fixture has become a mainstay of the darting calendar – COVID thingy aside – and now serves as an annual celebration of arrows.
Originally held in the glitzy chaos of Las Vegas, the tournament is now staged at iconic Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. Darts in The Garden – what a time to be alive.
This weekend, eight of the top PDC stars will take on North America’s finest. Headlining the field are reigning World Champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, defending US Masters champ Rob Cross, and the bloke who has won absolutely everything in the sport – Michael van Gerwen. Add to that major winners: Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Aussie top dog Damon Heta, and you’ve got more fireworks than a Fourth of July barbecue.
Flying the North American flag are four PDC Tour Card holders: Canada’s Matt Campbell and Jim Long, plus USA’s Danny Lauby and Jules van Dongen. They’re joined by CDC qualifiers and regional heavy-hitters Stowe Buntz, Leonard Gates, Adam Sevada, and Jason Brandon.
With a cool £30,000 up for grabs, the carrot is dangling – and the challengers are salivating at the chance to take a bite out of the world’s best.
The North American Darts Championship is held over the same weekend, for players of that continent, to add a little local spice and guaranteed home action. It will be interesting to see if another ‘hybrid’ weekend is added as the PDC attempt to expand their product and help their product, and thus darts overall, take genuine root in a part of the world that has already supplied a storied world champion and many other fabulous moments.
It all kicks off Friday night and wraps up on Saturday. Miss it, and you’ll only have yourself to blame.
—–ENDS—–
Addition words from the editorial team
Images: Ed Mullholland/PDC
