Leonard Gates storms past Fallon Sherrock at the US Darts Masters
American ace Leonard Gates tore up the script with a dominant 6-2 win over Fallon Sherrock on the opening day of the 2022 US Darts Masters in New York.
The eagerly-awaited tournament in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden began in style as home favourite Gates won through to Saturday’s final stages.
Sherrock sealed the opening leg but Gates reeled off four in a row to take command, and though the 2021 Nordic Masters finalist stopped the rot in leg six, it was the CDC star who closed out the win with finishes of 70 and 82.
“The energy was something I’ve never experienced here in North America before – it was great!” said Gates.
“It wasn’t her A-game but she’s done a lot of great things for darts and women’s darts, and I applaud her. She’s definitely the crowd favourite but I had to play my game.”
Gates will now face reigning World Champion and world number one Peter Wright – who held off a stern challenge from top-ranked American Danny Baggish before wrapping up a 6-4 victory.
Florida’s Baggish led 2-1 early on, but a 121 finish for a 12-darter from Wright in leg four sparked a run of three successive legs to put him in command.
“The crowd tonight was all behind USA and darts is the winner tonight – we’re lucky to be playing here in New York,” said Wright, who wore a specially-designed shirt themed on a New York taxi.
“I missed a few doubles here and there but I don’t think I had the right glasses on and I’ll have to try my normal ones tomorrow.
“I was a little bit rusty but I’ll brush up on that. I want to be the first one to win this tournament but there’s a long way to go yet.”
Former US Masters champion Gary Anderson began his bid to regain the title with a 6-3 win over Canada’s Matt Campbell – despite the Scot needing to play with borrowed darts.
Anderson now meets Michael Smith in the Last Eight on Saturday after the former Shanghai Masters winner overcame big-stage debutant Doug Boehm 6-3.
Michael van Gerwen, the 2017 champion, survived a scare on his way to clinching a 6-4 win over Dutch-born American Jules van Dongen.
Van Dongen hit back from 3-0 down to trail 4-3 with legs of 13, 12 and 14 darts, but paid for missing his chance to level in leg eight before Van Gerwen closed out the win.
“I’m happy to win,” said Van Gerwen. “I let him into the game but it’s the game of his life – his first time in front of his home crowd but I did the right thing at the end.”
Van Gerwen now meets James Wade in the Quarter-Finals, with the left-hander running out a 6-2 winner against Canadian number one Jeff Smith.
Gerwyn Price overcame a scare against newly-crowned World Seniors Master David Cameron before progressing with a 6-4 success.
Cameron hit back from 2-0 down to level with a 124 checkout and also wiped out a two-leg deficit to square the contest after eight legs – but he paid for missing a dart at tops to lead in the ninth before Price pounced to seal the win.
Price now faces an all-Welsh quarter-final with World Cup team-mate Jonny Clayton, who was a comfortable 6-2 winner against emerging American Danny Lauby.
The opening World Series event of the season will conclude on Saturday evening with the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and final in the Hulu Theater.
In addition, Saturday’s afternoon session will feature the Bet365 North American Championship, as the eight US and Canadian stars battle for that title and a place in the 2022/23 World Darts Championship.
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US Darts Masters 2022 Day One Results
Friday June 3
First Round
Michael Smith 6-3 Doug Boehm
James Wade 6-2 Jeff Smith
Gary Anderson 6-3 Matt Campbell
Fallon Sherrock 2-6 Leonard Gates
Peter Wright 6-4 Danny Baggish
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Jules van Dongen
Gerwyn Price 6-4 David Cameron
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Danny Lauby
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