The tungsten US Darts Masters and North American Championship are almost upon us and, with the PDC now unveiling the draw, all sixteen tungsten slingers finally know the identity of the person opposite them on the oche.
As with every sporting draw ever conducted since somebody first decided to pull names out of a hat, the announcement was greeted with a mixture of delight, despair, confusion and the occasional social media meltdown.
None of it, of course, made the slightest bit of difference. The balls had already been drawn. It was done. Much like the good old days when a referee sent someone off and twenty grown adults screaming in his face merely resulted in a sore throat rather than a changed decision.
Thankfully, darts hasn’t yet embraced football’s obsession with technology. There isn’t a little VAR official sat in a control room 300 miles away muttering, “Hold on lads, someone’s tweeted they’re unhappy. Better redraw the entire tournament.” Once your name comes out, that’s your lot. Deal with it.
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
For the eight North American combatants contesting Friday afternoon’s Championship, the standard throughout the field is remarkably high and, more importantly, incredibly even. Regardless of how the draw unfolded, four thoroughly appetising quarter-finals were almost guaranteed.
First up is an all-Canadian affair between Jim Long and Brayden Hall. Fans this side of the Atlantic probably won’t appreciate the observation that they’re also both names of rooms. Long… Hall… It’s the sort of joke that lands beautifully if you’ve spent too much time watching cricket. I have, so you’re all getting dragged down with me.
The joke would admittedly have been considerably stronger had Messrs Kitchen and Bathroom been drawn together. Sadly, they weren’t.
Instead, we have Leonard Gates taking on Fred Krueger. Only darts could casually produce a fixture featuring a flamboyant, dancing Texan against a man whose name instantly conjures images of a psychotic horror villain with entirely too much enthusiasm for sharp blades and super glue. Every introduction to Fred must sound like the opening scene of a slasher film.
An intriguing all-American contest sees Adam Sevada face Alex Spellman. Fortunately for Spellman, nobody should need to tell him how to finish combinations. The objective is to stop The Reaper, certainly not offering helpful checkout advice like an overly enthusiastic supermarket worker.
The final quarter-final pitches David Cameron against Gary Mawson. Both were born in the Land of the Maple Leaf, although Mawson eventually relocated to Florida due to being scared of moose. Which is perfectly logical if your preferred wildlife consists of six-foot alligators lurking behind every shrub. You can’t even pop out for a haircut without finding one sat in the barber’s chair, flicking through the latest issue of Which Croc?
US DARTS MASTERS
Before the North Americans get the opportunity to battle amongst themselves, they first have the rather inconvenient task of attempting to overcome the PDC elite.
The field contains the entire recent Premier League line-up, with the only alteration being the inclusion of the vastly decorated James Wade in place of Michael van Gerwen. That’s a little like taking Cristiano Ronaldo out of your football team and replacing him with Lionel Messi. Culturally different perhaps, but you’re hardly weakening the side.
Defending US Darts Masters champion Luke Humphries – and the only player in the field to have lifted the title – opens against Leonard Gates. Their walk-on music couldn’t be much more contrasting. But it’s not a riot I predict, it’s an outstanding darts match with the Texas man winning the dance-off.
David Cameron has perhaps drawn the shortest straw of the lot after being paired with reigning World Champion Luke Littler. Casual darts fans will recognise the Canadian not from an ill-fated stint at Downing Street, but from recently representing his country at the World Cup, where Littler and Humphries eventually claimed the title. Cameron has earned his place. Unfortunately, his reward is playing the world’s best teenager.
Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton are also in action. Expect Price to produce a roar louder in the garden as you would if your neighbour began mowing the lawn at 5am. The Iceman meets young Brayden Hall, while The Ferret faces the oldest representative from the North American contingent. With a combined age higher than a hippie at Woodstock, both might require a comfortable chair, slippers and a sensible cup of cocoa afterwards.
Josh Rock takes on Jim Long. As the only North American Tour Card holder, Long knows all about the quality possessed by the Northern Irishman, having crossed paths with him regularly on the professional circuit. For the proud Ontarian, his Rocky Mountain challenge has arrived a few thousand miles east of the Rockies.
Dutch number one Gian van Veen, who is undoubtedly sick of the endless kidney stone and recent surgery references, begins his campaign against Fred Krueger. By now, the American must surely be cursing the day that iconic 1980s horror film was released.
Stephen Bunting opens against Alex Spellman. The Liverpudlian will be hoping to shoot straight into the next round, although even somebody nicknamed The Bullet probably isn’t bulletproof enough to survive sitting through one of those twenty-minute online lectures explaining why you absolutely mustn’t start a 122 finish on the 20s.
Finally, James Wade faces Adam Sevada. The Machine has spent the best part of three decades dismantling some of the finest players ever to throw a dart and will certainly not fear this reaper. As for Adam, the feeling is very much mutual. Respect both ways in abundance but no one will be scared of facing the other on the oche.
One thing is certain. A pair of tournaments not to be missed.
US DARTS MASTERS: DRAW BRACKET
(1) Luke Littler v David Cameron
Josh Rock v Jim Long
(4) Gerwyn Price v Brayden Hall
James Wade v Adam Sevada
(2) Luke Humphries v Leonard Gates
Stephen Bunting v Alex Spellman
(3) Gian van Veen v Fred Krueger
Jonny Clayton v Gary Mawson
US DARTS MASTERS: SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Gian van Veen v Fred Krueger
Gerwyn Price v Brayden Hall
James Wade v Adam Sevada
Josh Rock v Jim Long
Luke Littler v David Cameron
Luke Humphries v Leonard Gates
Jonny Clayton v Gary Mawson
Stephen Bunting v Alex Spellman
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: DRAW BRACKET
(1) Jim Long v Brayden Hall
(4) Leonard Gates v Fred Krueger
(2) Adam Sevada v Alex Spellman
(3) David Cameron v Gary Mawson
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP: SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Jim Long v Brayden Hall
Leonard Gates v Fred Krueger
Adam Sevada v Alex Spellman
David Cameron v Gary Mawson
