Two Time Continental Cup Glory for Gates
https://www.pdc.tv/news/2024/10/20/glory-gates-cdc-continental-cup
After the Ruckus, Womack Stands Alone
When all was said and done at the inaugural DJD Ruckus at the Crossroads, it was Jake Womack as the man left standing after edging out Jim Long 7-6 in a nervy final. Long, who struggled to score effectively early in the match, capitalized on consistent double-trouble from Womack before finding form and firing in an 11-darter to move to within one leg of capturing his third title of the season. But it was not to be for “The Gentleman” as the Colorado man showed his mettle by taking the last two legs, landing D1 in the decider to claim the second CDC title of his career. For Long, it was a heartbreaking repeat of Friday night’s final – his second consecutive runner-up finish in a deciding leg.
Womack’s journey to the title began with a 5-1 dismantling of Nathan Humphries, followed by a hard-fought 5-3 win over Albert Anstey. He then stormed past an out-of-form Sean Mitchell, posting a dominant 6-0 whitewash. From there, Womack caught fire, averaging a scorching 101 in his 6-3 victory over Jacob Taylor before brushing aside Gary Mawson 7-1 to secure his place in the final.
Long’s path was equally impressive. He breezed through his early rounds, defeating Jacob Schaeffer 5-1 and Joey Lynaugh 6-2. That set the stage for a rematch with Alex Spellman, their encounter from Friday fresh in everyone’s minds. Once again, Long triumphed, this time in a nail-biting 6-5 win. His semifinal clash against Doug Boehm proved another tough battle, but Long edged it 7-5 to reach his second straight final.
Friday’s winner, Adam Sevada, continued his form, leading all players with a 95.3 average on Saturday. Womack was on fire from the oche, racking up 13 maximums, just one more than Long and Taylor. Taylor also showed his finishing prowess, hitting 42% of his checkouts, while Boehm produced the highlight checkout of the day with a stunning 170 in his semifinal loss to Long.
Final
Jake Womack (14) 7-6 Jim Long (5)
Semifinals
Jim Long (5) 7-5 Doug Boehm (8)
Jake Womack (14) 7-1 Gary Mawson (7)
Quarterfinals
Doug Boehm (8) 6-3 Jason Brandon (16)
Jim Long (5) 6-5 Alex Spellman (4)
Gary Mawson (7) 6-5 Gino Florian
Jake Womack (14) 6-3 Jacob Taylor (6)
Long’s strong run has put him in a solid position to book his ticket to Ally Pally for the 2025 PDC World Championship with one event remaining. Fans will be eagerly watching as the 2024 Championship Darts Corporation season wraps up on Sunday, September 22, at 10:00 Eastern with Event #14 – CDC Judgment Day. Not only will the final three CDC representatives for the World Championship be determined, but the 16 qualifiers for the 2024 Continental Cup will also be finalized.
Article by Brian Fraser
September 22, 2024
Cameron Finds Perfection but Sevada is Champion in Indianapolis
The final weekend of the 2024 Championship Darts Corporation season kicked off with some high-octane action across the field. At the center of the darting drama was Adam Sevada, who claimed his second career CDC title – the Winmau Darts Masters – in style, edging past Jim Long 7-6 in a thrilling final. Sevada’s win not only boosted his CDC ranking but also tightened the battle for the three coveted spots at the 2025 PDC PaddyPower World Darts Championship.
“The Undertaker” was in in ruthless control from the start. He blitzed through Jacob Brooks with a clinical 5-0 win, followed by a dominant 5-1 victory over Nick Linberg. The Canadian resistance fell short as well, with Sevada shutting out the 6th seed Jacob Taylor 6-0, before dismantling the 3rd seed David Cameron 6-1. A semifinal clash with Jeff Springer saw Sevada maintain his momentum, sealing a 7-4 victory to earn his place in the final.
On the other side, Jim Long was equally impressive. “The Gentleman” kicked off his campaign with a 5-1 win over Jack Robinson and a clean 5-0 sweep against John Liggett, before dispatching Rob Ethington 6-2. The quarterfinals saw him lock horns with Alex Spellman in a tightly contested battle, with Long scraping through 6-5 in a last-leg decider. He followed that up with a masterclass, whitewashing upstart Chris Caldwell 7-0 to set up the final showdown.
The real fireworks, however, erupted earlier in the day when David Cameron found perfection – hitting a 9-darter in his last-16 clash with Jake Womack and averaging just shy of 100 for the match. “Excalibur” needed every bit of that average to squeak through with a 6-5 victory but it wasn’t enough to carry him further, as Sevada ended his campaign soon after.
Main Event #12 – Winmau Darts Masters – Results:
Final
Adam Sevada (11) 7-6 Jim Long (5)
Semifinals
Jim Long (5) 7-0 Chris Caldwell
Adam Sevada (11) 7-4 Jeff Springer (10)
Quarterfinals
Chris Caldwell 6-2 Stowe Buntz (1)
Jim Long (5) 6-5 Alex Spellman (4)
Jeff Springer (10) 6-1 Jason Roker
Adam Sevada (11) 6-1 David Cameron (3)
The season rolls on with two high-stakes events on the horizon: Main Event 13: The CDC Ruckus at the Crossroads, kicking off September 21 at 12:00 PM Eastern, and Main Event 14: CDC Judgement Day, closing the season on September 22 at 10:00 AM Eastern. Both promise more drama as the race for the PDC World Championship and Continental Cup comes to its thrilling conclusion!
Article by Brian Fraser
September 20, 2024
Gates, Long and Spellman Victorious at the Falls
The 2024 Championship Darts Circuit continued over the weekend, with North America’s finest dart players congregating in Niagara Falls, NY, for Main Events 9, 10, and 11.
Saturday afternoon saw Leonard Gates win the Cosmo Darts Championship, defeating Adam Sevada 7-4 in the finals. Gates averaged 86.61 in Event 9, connecting on 37% of his finishes in his victories over Jeff McDonald, Stephen Krikorian (against whom he trailed 3-0 before storming back to win in a last-leg decider), Keith Way, Nick Linberg, Jim Long, and then Adam Sevada. The win was Gates’ third title of 2024 and 11th overall CDC Main Event crown – putting more daylight between he and Larry Butler who holds the second most titles with nine.
Saturday night’s contest, the CDC Bash at the Border, ended with Jim Long securing his second title this month, outlasting Jacob Taylor 7-3 in the finale. The victory, coming in a weekend that the London, Ontario man was originally planning not to attend because of other commitments, vaulted Long up to second on the Order of Merit for Canadian players. Long had to fight through the likes of an in-form Jeff Springer, Jake MacMillan, and Event #3 champion, Gary Mawson, to hoist the trophy.
The CDC Galaxy Grand Prix, Main Event #11, wrapped up the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Alex Spellman defeated fellow American, Stowe Buntz, 7-4 to return to the winners’ circle. With Buntz up 3-2, Spellman won 4 straight legs to pull ahead, before taking the title with a brilliant 12-darter in the eleventh leg. Spellman averaged 86.23 with 10 180s.
Main Event 9 – The Cosmo Darts Championship
Finals
Leonard Gates 7-4 Adam Sevada
Semifinals
Adam Sevada 7-2 Alex Spellman
Leonard Gates 7-4 Jim Long
Main Event 10 – The CDC Bash at the Border
Finals
Jim Long 7-3 Jacob Taylor
Semifinals
Jacob Taylor 7-5 Kiley Edmunds
Jim Long 7-4 Gary Mawson
Main Event 11 – The Galaxy Grand Prix
Finals
Alex Spellman 7-4 Stowe Buntz
Semifinals
Alex Spellman 7-5 Adam Sevada
Stowe Buntz 7-4 Leonard Gates
The Championship Darts Corporations main circuit concludes September 20-22, in Brownsburg, IN. The final weekend will feature Main Events number 12, 13, and 14, and points earned will decide the CDC participants in the 2024 CDC Continental Cup, as well the 2025 PDC World Championship.
Article by Brian Fraser
August 26, 2024
Buntz Storms to Victory in Boomerang Tours Fiesta
After early exits in the A-Z Darts Trophy in the afternoon, the Championship Dart Circuit’s top two ranked players delivered a thrilling showdown at the Boomerang Tours Fiesta on Saturday night. In a tense match that saw both players struggle at times, top-seeded Stowe Buntz triumphed over #2 seed David Cameron, claiming his fifth CDC Main Event trophy with a 7-5 victory.
The final began with Cameron in blistering form, racing to a 4-1 lead. But Buntz, known for his tenacity, roared back, capitalizing on some missed doubles from the Canadian to win six of the last seven legs and hoist the trophy. His completed the comeback victory with a spectacular 12-darter, pinning tops on the third dart from 100 to end Cameron’s hope for a comeback of his own.
“The Neon Nightmare” largely dominated his bracket, opening with a 5-0 demolition of Dustin Holt, followed by a 6-2 win over CDC Associates’ List player, Davey Mayne. The Virginia man did find himself in trouble in his quarterfinal match, trailing Doug Boehm 4-2 before mounting a fierce rally to run out a gritty 6-5 victory. His semifinal performance was commanding, dispatching Jacob Taylor 7-1 to book his place in the final.
Cameron’s journey to the final was equally impressive. “Excalibur” overcame a stunning 101.5 average from Jeff Springer in the second round to win 5-3, then defeated Steve Warnock 6-2 and Adam Sevada 6-3 to reach the semifinals. There, he faced three-time world champion John Part who has once again found form on the CDC Tour this year. Despite falling behind 3-1, Cameron staged a remarkable comeback to win 7-4, setting up the final clash with Buntz.
Jeff Springer led the event with a 92.05 average across his matches, while David Cameron edged out Stowe Buntz 12-11 for the most 180s. Springer also topped the charts for checkout percentage, hitting 46% of his attempts, narrowly besting Adam Sevada’s brilliant 160 checkout.
FINAL
Stowe Buntz 7-5 David Cameron
SEMIFINALS
Stowe Buntz 7-1 Jacob Taylor
David Cameron 7-4 John Part
QUARTERFINALS
Stowe Buntz 6-5 Doug Boehm
Jacob Taylor 6-5 Leonard Gates
David Cameron 6-3 Adam Sevada
John Part 6-5 Jack Robinson
CDC Tour action continues with the final tournament of weekend 3, the Dart Connect Challenge, beginning at 1:00pm on August 4, in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.
Article by Brian Fraser
August 3, 2024
The Gentleman Has His Day
“The Gentleman” Jim Long captured the A-Z Darts Trophy, narrowly defeating Leonard Gates 7-6 in a final that saw some absolute brilliance from the Canadian – including a stretch where he poured in four 180s and a 96 checkout in six trips to the oche.
Long opened the match with a 2-1 lead, but Gates responded with a surge, winning three legs on the trot to take a 4-2 advantage. Unfazed, Long fired back, winning three consecutive legs including a stunning 11-darter and a clinical 13-dart leg. The players traded blows from there, but it was Long who held his nerve, holding throw and hitting a crucial 76 checkout in the decider to claim his 4th CDC Main Event title. Long’s performance was underscored by an impressive 97.71 average in the final.
Seeded sixth, The Gentleman began his campaign with commanding 5-2 victories over Stephane Rousseau and Sean Mitchell. His last 16 clash against Jake Womack proved to be a test of resilience. After racing to a 3-0 lead, Long found himself behind as Womack took four legs on the spin. However, Long regained control, winning the last three legs to triumph 6-4.
In the quarterfinals, Long clashed with perennial fan favorite, Alex Spellman. In a match that lived up to its billing, both players averaged over a ton, but it was Long who prevailed 6-4; this marked the second time in Spellman’s CDC career that he was on the losing end of a match where both players averaged North of 100. Long then cruised past fellow countryman, Dave Richardson, in convincing fashion to earn his spot in the final.
Leonard Gates, the 4-seed, displayed dominant form early on, whitewashing Hossey Hicks 5-0 and Jack Robinson 6-0 in his first two matches. He continued his impressive run with a 6-3 win over Joey Lynaugh in the quarterfinals before facing a stern test in the semifinals against an in-form Jeff Springer. In a back-and-forth contest – where neither player won more than two legs in a row – Gates survived three match darts in the deciding leg before checking 73 on the third dart to break throw and claim the 7-6 victory.
Springer had already caused multiple upsets, defeating top seed Stowe Buntz, ninth seed Doug Boehm, and sixteenth seed Jake MacMillan before succumbing to Gates.
Ross Snook posted the highest total average of the day at 95.16. Long led the tournament with 18 180s, while Gates hit 13 maximums. Long also recorded the highest checkout of the day, a spectacular 167 against Dave Richardson in the semifinals, and boasted a 42% checkout rate, just behind leader Alex Spellman’s 46%.
Final:
Jim Long 7-6 Leonard Gates
Semifinals:
Leonard Gates 7-6 Jeff Springer
Jim Long 7-2 Dave Richardson
Quarterfinals:
Jeff Springer 6-0 Doug Boehm (9)
Leonard Gates (4) 6-3 Joey Lynaugh (12)
Dave Richardson 6-2 Brandon Goddard
Jim Long (6) 6-4 Alex Spellman (3)
The Championship Darts Corporation’s main circuit continues with the second half of their double-header, Main Event 6, the Boomerang Tours Fiesta, later on Saturday evening, August 3, in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.
Article by Brian Fraser
August 3, 2024
Cameron Claims 7th CDC Title with Magic Darts Masters Win
David Cameron clinched the 2024 Magic Darts Masters title with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Jeff Smith in an all-Canadian final, marking his seventh overall win on the CDC circuit. He surged to a 6-3 lead before Smith launched a relentless comeback, surviving match darts to force a nervy deciding leg in which Cameron pinned tops in 18 darts to secure the win.
Smith and Cameron entered the weekend as the top two in the 2024 points standings but had not advanced past the quarterfinals until Event 5 on Sunday. Cameron was knocked out in the quarterfinals twice, while Smith didn’t make it past the last 16 on Saturday.
“The Silencer” began his Magic Darts Masters run with a 5-2 victory over Shane Meeks, followed by a 5-3 win against PDC tour card holder Jules Van Dongen. He then cruised through the next rounds, defeating fellow countryman and good friend Albert Anstey 6-1 and Leonard Gates 6-3, before facing Danny Baggish in the semifinals. Scoring and finishing on-form, Smith got to within one leg of victory at 6-3 before Baggish managed to claw back three legs on the trot to force a last-leg decider where Smith checked 14 for a 16-darter to book the clash with Cameron.
For his part, “Excalibur” navigated the early rounds smoothly, dispatching Brian Fenlon 5-1, Eugene Schmitt 5-0, and Anthony Cianciolo 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. There, he faced a tough challenge from Gary Mawson, who had been in top form all weekend. In a seesaw battle, Cameron emerged victorious in a last-leg decider and then defeated fellow Canadian Jim Long to reach the final.
Throughout the tournament, Cameron posted the third-highest average at 88.58, just behind Jeff Springer and Adam Sevada. He also led with 12 180s. Daniel Baggish recorded the highest checkout of 160 and tied with Sevada for the highest checkout percentage, hitting 44% of his finishes.
Finals
- David Cameron 7-6 Jeff Smith
Semifinals
- Jeff Smith 7-6 Daniel Baggish
- David Cameron 7-2 Jim Long
Quarterfinals
- Daniel Baggish 6-4 Adam Sevada
- Jeff Smith 6-3 Leonard Gates
- David Cameron 6-5 Gary Mawson
- Jim Long 6-5 Jake Womack
The journey to the 2024 Continental Cup continues on August 3 & 4 with main events 6 to 8 in Chicago, IL.
Article by Brian Fraser
July 15, 2024
STOWE-king the Fire: Buntz Reigns Supreme in Galaxy Gold Cup
Stowe Buntz clinched the 2024 Galaxy Gold Cup in a thrilling final Saturday night, overcoming Jacob Taylor 7-5 in a match that saw drama and brilliance in spades. Trailing 5-4 after nine legs, the reigning Continental Cup champion reached deep and reeled off the final three legs to capture his first title of the year and remind the darts world why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Coming off a shocking second-round exit in his previous event, Buntz wasted no time making his intentions clear. He stormed through the early rounds with a 5-2 triumph over Levi Kransel and dispatched Ross Snook 5-1 to set the tone. Buntz then delivered back-to-back 6-0 whitewash wins against Jake Womack and Jim Long, cruising into the semifinals. There, Event 3 winner Gary Mawson pushed him to the brink, but Buntz’s resilience shone through in a thrilling 7-6 win.
Jacob Taylor, on the other hand, had a rocky start, edging past Jeff McDonald, Trevor Buboltz, and Dustin Holt in less-than-impressive fashion. But he found his rhythm just in time, averaging 103.43 in a 6-2 demolition of Leonard Gates and continuing his strong form with a 92.70 average to overcome Adam Sevada in the semifinals. His 98.58 average in the final was six points higher than his opponent’s but wasn’t enough to stop Buntz’s late surge.
Statistically, Buntz was peerless. He posted an 89.05 average and matched Taylor with 10 maximums. His checkout rate of 40% is a testament to his clinical finishing under pressure. Danny Baggish, meanwhile, provided the highest checkout of the day with a spectacular 167 to close out his second-round win over Albert Anstey.
Finals
- Stowe Buntz 7-5 Jacob Taylor
Semifinals
- Jacob Taylor 7-6 Adam Sevada
- Stowe Buntz 7-6 Gary Mawson
Quarterfinals
- Adam Sevada 6-4 Alex Spellman
- Jacob Taylor 6-2 Leonard Gates
- Gary Mawson 6-5 David Cameron
- Stowe Buntz 6-4 Jim Long
With the Galaxy Gold Cup in the rearview mirror, the CDC main tour moves on to the Magic Darts Masters, kicking off Sunday at noon in Chicago, Illinois. The journey continues, with all roads leading to the 2024 Continental Cup.
Article by Brian Fraser
7/14/2024
“The Mawler” Rolls Back the Years to Take Winmau Championship Title
North America’s top players gathered in Chicago, IL, for the Winmau Darts Championship – Event #3 on the 2024 Championship Darts Circuit. Sixty-four players started the day vying for the title, but it was “The Mawler” Gary Mawson who turned back the clock, defeating Jeff Springer 7-4 to secure his first CDC title since the 2018 Continental Cup. Both players were making their first finals appearance since 2022.
The tournament saw shocking first-round exits for Jeff Smith, Jules Van Dongen, and Danny Lauby. Second-round defeats for Stowe Buntz, Leonard Gates, and Adam Sevada left the bracket wide open. Top seed Alex Spellman failed to make it past the last 16, while former US number one Daniel Baggish fell in the quarterfinals, along with the Canadian trio of Jacob Taylor, David Cameron, and Jim Long.
Gary Mawson was in commanding form during his early matches, securing a 5-1 victory over Chris Caldwell, a 5-0 win over Jacob Schaeffer, and a 6-1 triumph over Sylvain Bourdeau. He faced a tough test in the quarterfinals, falling behind 4-3 before rallying to win the last three legs to secure victory over David Cameron. In the semifinals, Mawson opened up a 5-2 lead against Jake Womack, eventually holding on for a 7-5 win.
Springer was the giant killer of the day, knocking out Jeff Smith 5-2 in the first round, Alex Spellman 6-5 in the third round, and Daniel Baggish 6-3 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals against Nick Linberg, Springer found himself trailing 5-4 but showcased his resilience by winning three successive legs to take the match 7-5.
Despite his defeat in the last 16, Alex Spellman posted an impressive average of 95.65 on the day. Jeff Springer led the way with twelve 180s, four more than semifinalist Jake Womack, and also hit the highest checkout of the tournament with a 164.
Final
Gary Mawson 7-4 Jeff Springer
Semifinals
Jeff Springer 7-5 Nick Linberg
Gary Mawson 7-5 Jake Womack
Quarterfinals
Jeff Springer 6-3 Danny Baggish
Nick Linberg 6-1 Jacob Taylor
Gary Mawson 6-4 David Cameron
Jake Womack 6-2 Jim Long
The full bracket is available at: https://tv.dartconnect.com/event/cdc24dc03/brackets/72784
The CDC continues with Event #4 – the Galaxy Gold Cup – this evening in Chicago.
Article by Brian Fraser
July 13, 2024