Danny Lauby and Jason Brandon enjoyed the biggest wins of their respective careers to stun reigning champion Rob Cross and top seed Stephen Bunting on the opening night of the 2025 bet365US Darts Masters on Friday.
The World Series of Darts’ return to The Theater in Madison Square Garden saw a high-quality start to the two-day event as a duo of American aces broke new ground.
Lauby ended Cross’ title defence with a stunning 6-0 whitewash over the 2024 US Darts Masters winner, averaging 94 and following up an earlier 118 checkout with an 11-darter to close out an impressive display.
The Indiana-born left-hander has lost three times previously in the US Darts Masters first round, and admitted: “That was amazing. Every win is difficult; I’ve not had a whole lot of stage experience this year so there’s nothing but positives.
“I know how good Rob is and he didn’t play to his standard and I was fortunate enough to take advantage. I’m really happy and looking forward to Saturday.”
Lauby will also compete on Saturday afternoon in the bet365 North American Darts Championship, which offers places in the World Darts Championship and Grand Slam of Darts as he battles to retain his PDC Tour Card.
“I’ve not really done myself justice on the tour so I needed this and I’m going to build on this,” he added.
“The North American Darts Championship is obviously the most important thing, for my ranking and Ally Pally, so I’m really gunning for that one – but obviously I want to do every one of my supporters proud and I might as well win them both!”
Lauby is joined in Saturday evening’s final stages by Tennessee’s Brandon, the American qualifier who stunned top seed Stephen Bunting with a 6-4 triumph.
Brandon had lost 6-2 to Cross on his TV debut in New York two years ago, but defied a 170 checkout from Bunting to close out victory this time around with a 97 average.
“That’s my biggest win – I’m struggling to find the words,” said the 50-year-old, who traded plans to celebrate Saturday’s wedding anniversary in the Turks & Caicos Islands after qualifying for the event.
“My goal was to come up here and get a little bit of redemption for two years ago – I don’t know how I held it together but I was able to focus.
“I’m feeling way better about my darts now than I was coming into the event. I’m ready for tomorrow.”
World Champion Luke Littler raised the roof in The Theater at Madison Square Garden by sealing his 6-1 win over Jules van Dongen with a 120 checkout of three double tops.
The reigning World Series of Darts Finals champion now meets Nathan Aspinall in Saturday’s quarter-finals as he bids to claim his maiden New York triumph.
Aspinall, the 2019 US Darts Masters winner in Las Vegas, landed eight 180s and averaged 105 in a sensational 6-2 win over Canadian number one Matt Campbell.
“I knew I had a tough game against Matt and I had to produce some good numbers,” said Aspinall. “The 180s were flowing and it was a great game and an amazing crowd.
“I’d love to win another US Darts Masters title. I’ve not won one since 2019 and I think I’m a better player than that.”
World number one Luke Humphries came from 4-3 down against Stowe Buntz to avoid a third American triumph of Friday’s first round, reeling off the final three legs without reply to progress to a tie with Lauby.
Two-time US Darts Masters winner Michael van Gerwen and 2024 finalist Gerwyn Price will meet in a tasty quarter-final on Saturday following impressive opening victories.
Price shone with a 102.47 average and six 180s in his 6-2 victory over American qualifier Adam Sevada, while Van Gerwen marked his return to action by averaging almost 100 to dispatch Leonard Gates 6-1.
Damon Heta punished nine missed doubles from Jim Long to claim a 6-1 win over the Canadian, averaging almost 99 on his New York debut to set up a clash with Brandon.
The US Darts Masters concludes on Saturday afternoon with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Saturday’s afternoon session sees the bet365 North American Championship take place, as the eight American and Canadian stars take to the stage to compete for that domestic title and a $10,000 top prize.
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Images: Matt Heasley/PDC
