The US Darts Masters returns in 2023 for its second staging at Madison Square Garden in New York, as 8 PDC stars and 8 North American qualifiers look set to battle it out for £20,000.
For Luke Humphries it will be his first experience of playing in New York, as he prepares to take on Alex Spellman in the First Round. The American impressed most recently at the MODUS Super Series, but Cool Hand Luke will be hoping to go one step further in the World Series of darts event than his 4 2023 finals on the European Tour.
Recent Premier League Champion Michael van Gerwen will take to the oche in the last match of the round, facing Jake Macmillan who secured his spot at the tournament via the Qualifiers Order of Merit.
MVG lost last year’s Final 8-4 against Michael Smith but will hope the momentum from the O2 Arena will continue this weekend in New York. Mighty Mike clinched a 10-8 win against Smith in the Semi Finals at the O2 Arena before beating Gerwyn Price in the Final, including a 170 finish.
The Iceman will also compete for the US Darts Masters as he faces American World Cup of Darts player Jules van Dongen in the First Round.
The Welshman has come close to winning in the other 2 World Series events of the year, losing the Final of the Bahrain Darts Masters against Michael Smith, before suffering the same outcome a week later against Peter Wright.
Since then, the Welshman has kicked on having clinched 2 titles on the Euro Tour, whilst also finishing top of the Premier League Darts table for the first time in his darting career,
Peter Wright comes into the 2023 US Darts Masters looking for his first victory in the States, picking up wins on the World Series and Euro Tour so far this year.
Snakebite will face recent CDC Cross Border Challenge winner Jeff Smith in the First Round, with the Canadian not dropping a single leg on his final day of action in Jersey City.
Cross Border Challenge Runner Up Jim Long, Tour Card holder Matt Campbell and new faces JT David and Jason Brandon complete the line-up for the competition, with the debutants winning North American qualification events to secure their spots at Madison Square Garden.
The US Darts Masters starts from midnight on Saturday in New York with recent Euro Tour winner Rob Cross taking on debutant Jason Brandon in the opening match. The weekend will also feature the North American Darts Championship which will see the winner qualify for the 2024 World Darts Championship, with Leonard Gates winning the event 12 months ago.
US Darts Masters: Day 1 Order of Play
Round 1:
Rob Cross v Jason Brandon
Dimitri van den Bergh v JT Davis
Luke Humphries v Alex Spellman
Nathan Aspinall v Matt Campbell
Gerwyn Price v Jules van Dongen
Peter Wright v Jeff Smith
Michael Smith v Jim Long
Michael van Gerwen v Jake Macmillan
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
Grab a copy of the 50th Anniversary Darts World 581 here (while stock lasts) or the new Issue 583 here :
The Darts World 50 limited edition dart set is available to order (Here) in your choice of pack/bundle.
Also Available Free: Darts World Extra 9 – Gezzy Nice
Darts World Magazine‘s fantastic value bundles:
Subscribe or purchase your copy
