Deer Lake Delivers as Canada Seals Nations Cup on Opening Night

Team Canada fed off a raucous home crowd in Deer Lake, Newfoundland on Friday night, storming to seven wins from eight matches in the Last 16 of the Fourth Annual CDC Cross Border Darts Challenge to officially clinch the Nations Cup.

With every opening-round clash contested between the United States and Canada, the hosts delivered a statement performance on home soil, with Adam Sevada the lone American to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Canada’s charge was led by top seed David Cameron, who turned in the performance of the night in a dominant 5-0 win over CDC Hall of Famer and USA Team Captain, Larry Butler. Cameron also posted the highest average of the session at 92.78.

Second seed Darryl Christie also moved through for the hosts with a 5-3 victory over Jason Brandon, while fourth seed Jim Long ran out a 5-2 winner over Doug Boehm. Third seed Kiley Edmunds completed a strong night for the seeded Canadians with a 5-3 win against Nick Linberg.

Albert Anstey and Jacob Taylor then gave the Newfoundland crowd two unforgettable moments in a pair of dramatic deciding-leg victories. Anstey survived six match darts from USA number two seed, Stowe Buntz, before producing a stunning 100 finish on single 20, double 20, double 20 to seal a 5-4 win and ignite the home support. Taylor followed with a thriller of his own, pinning double 1 in a last-leg decider to defeat USA number three seed Leonard Gates 5-4, having survived nine match darts along the way.

Elsewhere, Jeff Smith opened the evening with a 5-2 win over USA fourth seed Gary Mawson, while PDC and CDC Hall of Famer and Canadian Team Captain, John Part, saw his run ended by USA top seed Adam Sevada, who claimed the Americans’ only victory of the night with a 5-2 success.

Adding to the occasion in Deer Lake, legendary referee and PDC Hall of Famer Russ Bray made his CDC stage debut, taking charge of six of the evening’s eight matches.

On the scoring front, Smith, Anstey, Sevada and Linberg each landed two 180s.

The Fourth Annual CDC Cross Border Darts Challenge concludes on Saturday night in Deer Lake, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final set to decide the individual title. Doors open at 6:00 PM local time, followed by the inaugural CDC Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 6:20 PM. Quarterfinal action begins at 7:00 PM Newfoundland time / 5:30 PM Eastern.

LAST-16 RESULTS
Jeff Smith 5-2 Gary Mawson
Jason Brandon 3-5 Darryl Christie
Larry Butler 0-5 David Cameron
John Part 2-5 Adam Sevada
Doug Boehm 2-5 Jim Long
Albert Anstey 5-4 Stowe Buntz
Jacob Taylor 5-4 Leonard Gates
Nick Linberg 3-5 Kiley Edmunds

SATURDAY NIGHT QUARTERFINALS ORDER OF PLAY (7:00 PM Newfoundland Time / 5:30 PM Eastern)
Adam Sevada v Jim Long
Darryl Christie v Jacob Taylor
David Cameron v Jeff Smith
Albert Anstey v Kiley Edmunds