Talking Littler, Tour Winners & US Darts Masters with Jeff Smith & Gordon Dixon

/in /by

🎯 In this episode with your host, Anthony Eugenia, we had some incredible insights and discussions with our special guests, Gordon Dixon and reigning North American champion, Jeff Smith. Here are three key takeaways from this episode that you won’t want to miss:

  1. Luke Littler’s Impressive Debut: Luke Littler, the young dart player, made a remarkable debut in the Premier League, showcasing nerves of steel and exceptional talent. Despite his young age, he proved himself on the big stage, leaving us all in awe of his potential.

  2. CDC Championship Darts Circuit Weekend 1 Recap: We delved into the highlights of the CDC Championship Darts Circuit Weekend 1, where Leonard Gates and David Cameron emerged victorious in the events. Jeff Smith’s performance in the qualifiers and his upcoming participation in the PDC US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden were also discussed.

  3. PopCon Indy Experience: Our team had an amazing time at PopCon Indy, a pop culture convention, where we introduced darts to a diverse audience. The interactions with fans, including young kids and celebrities like Andy Serkis and John Barrowman, were truly memorable, showcasing the universal appeal of darts.

[00:01:32] Premier League hot takes & the Littler Effect

[00:08:53] Weekend #1 Recap

[00:18:32] PDC US Darts Masters.

[00:32:19] Darts at PopCon

Tune in to the latest episode to catch all the exciting insights, discussions, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of darts! 🎯

🎉 Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more engaging content and updates.

Let us know your thoughts and favorite moments from the episode in the comments! 

#ShootinTheBull #CDCPodcast #DartsCommunity 🎧🎯

 

Cameron Races to Victory in Indianapolis 501

/in , /by

Two of Canada’s finest clashed in the Final at the 2024 CDC Indianapolis 501 on Sunday, with David Cameron – the 2023 CDC top-ranked Canadian – emerging victorious over the 2023 North American champion, Jeff Smith, to clinch the title. Cameron’s precision finishing proved decisive in the final, showcasing three ton-plus finishes and two more over 90.

Jeff Smith, returning to the CDC circuit after several years playing overseas, began his campaign with a 5-3 win over Sylvain Bourdeau, followed by a commanding 5-0 victory over Chris Swanson. Smith then defeated the 11th seed, Keith Way, 5-3, before delivering a blistering performance against fellow US Darts Masters qualifier, Adam Sevada, winning 6-0 with a 101 average to Sevada’s 96. He continued his impressive run with a 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Jacob Taylor and a 7-1 semifinal triumph over Jake Womack.

David Cameron, the number one seed, opened with consecutive 5-1 victories over Paul Forauer and Chris Caldwell. He narrowly escaped his last-16 matchup against Danny Young, winning 6-5, and then dispatched an out-of-sorts Daniel Baggish 6-0. Cameron’s semifinal clash against Stowe Buntz was a tight, back-and-forth affair, but he ultimately prevailed 7-5 to reach the final.

This was a big weekend for Excalibur as he not only claimed the Event #2 title, but also booked a spot at the US Darts Masters (alongside Smith and Sevada) by winning Friday’s qualifier AND secured his place as Matt Campbell’s partner on Team Canada at the World Cup of Darts to be held in Frankfurt from June 27-30.

The tournament saw several surprising early exits, with five top-10 players falling in the round of 64. Notable early casualties included Alex Spellman (2), Jim Long (6), Larry Butler (7), and Gary Mawson (9). However, the biggest shock came when Leonard Gates, the fourth seed and winner of Main Event #1, was knocked out by Jack Robinson 5-2.

Adam Sevada, who also qualified for the North American Championship and the US Darts Masters, led the way with a 92.33 average. Jeff Smith edged out David Cameron for most 180s, hitting 12. John Part had a 45% checkout rate, while Jake MacMillan recorded a tournament-high 167 checkout in his third-round loss to Jake Taylor.

Finals
David Cameron (1) 7-5 Jeff Smith

Semifinals
David Cameron (1) 7-5 Stowe Buntz (5)
Jeff Smith 7-1 Jake Womack

Quarterfinals
David Cameron (1) 6-0 Daniel Baggish (8)
Stowe Buntz (5) 6-5 Jack Robinson
Jake Womack 6-2 Jules Van Dongen (15)
Jeff Smith 6-3 Jacob Taylor (3)

The Championship Darts Corporation’s main circuit continues with Events 3 to 5, taking place July 13 and 14 in Chicago, Illinois.

Soulga Secures Opening Day Title at CDC Cosmo Darts Classic

/in , /by

The 2024 Championship Darts Corporation (CDC) season kicked off with a bang in Indianapolis, Indiana, where North America’s finest talent gathered for the Cosmo Darts Classic.

In what may be one of the highest-quality finals in CDC history, Leonard Gates claimed his 7th career CDC Main Event title (and 13th CDC-related overall win) with a 7-3 victory over Doug Boehm. Both players averaged 102 in the finals, with no leg exceeding 16 darts.

The top five ranked players all advanced to the quarterfinals, but competition was fierce and Gates, seeded fourth, was the only one to survive, edging out 2023 CDC Continental Cup champion Stowe Buntz with a hard-fought 6-4 win. Gates then averaged 98.4 in a commanding semifinal victory over Danny Baggish, following earlier wins over Jake MacMillan (6-2) and a pair of whitewash victories over Jared Leedy and Paul Jones.

Doug Boehm started his campaign with victories over Matthew Thompson, Jason Roker, and Shane Meeks, going 16-5 in legs over those three matches despite some lower-than-normal scoring averages. Boehm then found his rhythm, erasing a 5-3 deficit against 2024 Cross Border champion Alex Spellman to book a semifinal tie against Jeff Smith where shook off a 3-0 deficit by running off seven of the final eight legs to earn his first trip to a CDC event final.

Top seed David Cameron, who secured his spot in the 2024 US Darts Masters last night, fell at the quarterfinal stage against Danny Baggish despite averaging seven points higher than his opponent.

Statistically, Jake Womack ended the event with the highest average (95.55) which came in a losing effort in his first-round match against Dave Richardson. Womack was followed closely by Gates’ 93.64 average over six matches on the day. Gates checked out 48% of his finishes, and both he and Doug Boehm led the way with 13 maximums each.

Finals
Leonard Gates (4) 7-3 Doug Boehm (10)

Semifinals
Leonard Gates (4) 7-3 Danny Baggish (8)
Doug Boehm (10) 7-4 Jeff Smith

Quarterfinals
Danny Baggish (8) 6-3 David Cameron (1)
Leonard Gates (4) 6-4 Stowe Buntz (5)
Doug Boehm (10) 6-5 Alex Spellman (2)
Jeff Smith 6-4 Jacob Taylor (3)

Today’s event kicked off the 2024 season, which will feature 14 events. Points earned will qualify the top American and Canadian players for the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship in London, as well as the 2024 tour championship, the CDC Continental Cup, in New York City. Event #2 kicks off on Sunday at 11:00 am Eastern time.

Article by Brian Fraser

A Journey Through Darts with Alex Spellman

/in /by

In the latest episode of “Shooting the Bull,” the official podcast of the Championship Darts Circuit, we dive deep into the world of darts, discussing topics of the day from a North American perspective.

Episode Highlights:

  • Contributors: We have a jam-packed episode as Anthony Eugenia is joined by Cross Border Darts Challenge winner Alex Spellman. Later on, contributors Peter Citera and Angelo DiGuilio are welcomed to the show to revisit the highlights of the Cross Border and what’s next for the CDC!

  • Cross Border Darts Challenge Recap: From thoughts on the 2024 event to where it’s heading in the future as well as the Nations’ Cup, relive the best moments of the incredible weekend with us.

  • Insider Insights: Get an exclusive look into the player council and how it advocates for the players on the tour as well as how wagering could impact the game in the future.

  • Memorable Moments: Hear firsthand from Alex Spellman about his incredible nine-darter and his journey through the Championship Darts Circuit.

  • Reaching New Fans: We discuss the upcoming pop culture convention, PopCon where the Championship Darts Corporation will have center stage in front of over 30,000 people along with over 50 celebrities and dozens of other pop culture fandom experiences plus a look ahead to the US Darts Masters.

[00:01:06] Alex Spellman’s beginnings with the CDC

[00:17:22] The Nine Darter at the Cross Border

[00:26:51] The importance of good darts.

[00:30:17] Player’s struggle with expectations.

[00:37:03] North American challenges in the PDC

[00:39:44] Alex talks his involvement with the Players Council

[00:43:57] Player council advocating for players.

[00:55:24] Nations Cup recap

[01:14:45] Developing Opportunities in Darts.

[01:19:40] The CDC at PopCon

[01:26:13] Live Q&A 

[01:45:41] The Core Mission of the CDC

If you’re a darts enthusiast and love a good conversation, this episode is a must-listen! Join us as we explore what it takes to compete at the highest level and continue to grow darts in North America!

 

#Darts #Podcast #ChampionshipDartsCircuit #NineDarter #AlexSpellman #NorthAmericanDarts #LovetheDarts #SportsPodcast

 

BONUS EPISODE: Predictions and Analysis for the Cross-Border Darts Challenge

/in /by

Welcome to the pregame coverage of the 2024 CDC Cross-Border Darts Challenge! In this episode of “Shooting the Bull,” host Anthony Eugenia, along with teammate Nils Nelson, provide a detailed analysis of the upcoming darts tournament from Uptown Social in Michigan City, Indiana.

Join the conversation as they discuss the bracket, player matchups, and make predictions for the event. With exciting games lined up, including the Nations Cup between Team USA and Team Canada, this episode sets the stage for an action-packed weekend of darts.

Don’t miss out on the insights and predictions from the Shooting the Bull team as they dive into the world of North American darts. Subscribe to the podcast for more casual conversations about the sport of darts and stay tuned for the 2024 CDC Cross-Border Darts Challenge!

[00:02:28] Alex Spellman vs. Sylvain Bordeaux.

[00:06:22] PDC vs. CDC competition.

[00:10:02] Rising Stars.

[00:14:43] Dart players’ intriguing matchups.

[00:17:23] Stowe Buntz vs. John Part.

[00:26:31] Nils Nelson’s unexpected champion.

[00:28:56] Nations Cup prediction.

#darts #CDC #crossborder #tournament #predictions #analysis #NationsCup #ShootingtheBull #podcast #lovethedarts

From Indianapolis to Madison Square Garden: The North American Darts Journey with Contributors Sean Green & Mark Taggart

/in /by

Join Anthony Eugenia for the second episode of “Shooting the Bull,” the official podcast of the Championship Dart Circuit. In this episode, Anthony is joined by Sean Green and Mark Taggart for a casual conversation about darts from a North American perspective. They discuss the upcoming Cross Border Darts Challenge, the US Darts Masters, and the 2024 Tour Schedule. The show ends with an engaging Q&A about darts with their audience through feedback and questions. Tune in for entertaining insights and lively discussions from the world of darts!

[00:02:15] CDC: All roads lead to Indianapolis

[00:04:36] Cross Border Darts Challenge Preview

[00:15:06] Players to watch

[00:19:27] CDC at PopCon Indy – Introducing a New Audience to Darts 

[00:25:36] CDC Tour Schedule

[00:57:30] Previewing the US Darts Masters

[01:08:52] The Littler Effect on Michael Van Gerwen’s career and future

[01:25:33] Q&A begins – Vegas or NY for US Darts Masters

[01:40:42] What makes a professional darts player?

[01:51:39] Future tournaments in the CDC

Important links:

Cross Border Darts Challenge tickets and hotel (Book by 3/26 for discount!):

https://ticketsource.us/champdarts

U.S. Darts Masters tickets and discount hotel:

https://www.ticketmaster.com/u.s.-darts-masters-tickets/artist/2722212

Follow @champdarts on social media

🎙️🎯 #Darts #Podcast #ChampionshipDartCircuit #ShootingTheBull

Littler to headline 2024 US Darts Masters line-up in New York

/in , , /by

Luke Littler will make his bet365 US Darts Masters debut at Madison Square Garden later this year, with the eight PDC representatives now confirmed for the World Series of Darts event in New York.

Teenage trailblazer Littler has created global headlines over recent months, reaching the World Championship final before landing a nine-darter on his way to celebrating Bahrain Darts Masters glory on his World Series debut in January.

The 17-year-old sensation will now set his sights on a second World Series of Darts crown when the sport’s biggest names take on eight North American representatives in The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 31 & June 1.

2024 World Champion Luke Humphries, the world number one, and reigning champion Michael van Gerwen will headline the star-studded 16-player field, alongside former US Darts Masters winners Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall.

Three other former World Champions – Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross – will also return to ‘The Big Apple’, as the PDC visits New York for a third consecutive year.

 

PDC Tour Card Holders Matt Campbell, Jules van Dongen and Danny Lauby will head up the eight North American competitors, with Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz assured of qualification following his 2023 CDC Continental Cup triumph.

The 2024 CDC Cross-Border Challenge winner will also earn a place in the field following April’s event in Michigan City, Indiana, along with a further three players from the CDC Qualifiers, which are set to take place from May 17-19.

Alongside the US Darts Masters, the bet365 North American Championship will also be staged on Saturday June 1, as the eight North American competitors go head-to-head for that title and a spot in the 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS FOR THE 2024 US DARTS MASTERS
(Click the unlock button at the seat selection screen and use code CDC33 for 33% off. Not valid on table seating or two-day passes.)

2024 bet365 US Darts Masters & North American Championship
May 31-June 1, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York

Session Schedule
Friday May 31 (1900 local time)
bet365 US Darts Masters first round

Saturday June 1
Afternoon Session (1300 local time)
bet365 North American Championship quarter-finals, semi-finals & final

Evening Session (1900 local time)
bet365 US Darts Masters quarter-finals, semi-finals & final

2024 bet365 US Darts Masters field
PDC Representatives
Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith
Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Peter Wright
Luke Littler

North American Representatives
Matt Campbell
Jules van Dongen
Danny Lauby
Stowe Buntz
2024 CDC Cross-Border Challenge Winner
3x CDC Qualifiers

Article by Josh Gorton/PDC

Shooting for the Stars: 10 Years of the Championship Darts Circuit & Beyond!

/in /by

Welcome to the first episode of Shooting the Bull, your official podcast of the Championship Darts Circuit.

Join your host, Anthony Eugenia with his fellow CDC founders L. David Irete and Peter Citera as they reflect on the journey of the Championship Darts Circuit over the past decade. With a mix of humor, camaraderie, and personal anecdotes, the hosts discuss the origins of the CDC, the challenges they faced, and the milestones they achieved as the sport of darts continues to grow in North America.

In this episode:

-The vision for the future of the CDC, including plans for expanding the tour, increasing prize money, and venturing into the world of gaming. 

-The upcoming Cross Border Darts Challenge and the exciting venue in Michigan City, Indiana. 

-The North American players that made an impact in the PDC World Darts Championships and the players to watch this year

-Introducing darts to new fans including the upcoming CDC appearance at PopCon in Indianapolis

Moments from the show: 

[00:03:57] Evolution of the sport of darts and how the CDC came to be.

[00:11:20] Setting ambitious goals for the future of the CDC.

[00:22:33] Holding hands and jumping in – The moment the 3 CDC founders took the leap.

[00:39:32] Gaming and gambling coming to the CDC

[00:49:06] The Cross Border Darts Challenge 

[00:53:00] Impact of Luke Littler on Darts.

[01:07:11] Jeff Smith: His incredible contribution to darts.

[01:11:35] Jules Van Dongen: His journey and character.

[01:15:15] Alex Spellman: Passion for the game and teaching

[01:20:26] Stowe Buntz: The neon nightmare and more.

[01:28:11] Youth participation in dart leagues.

[01:31:49] PopCon – Comic and Culture Convention.

[01:36:34] Danny Lauby: From the beginning

Important links:

Cross Border Darts Challenge tickets and hotel:

https://ticketsource.us/champdarts

U.S. Darts Masters Tickets:

https://www.ticketmaster.com/u.s.-darts-masters-tickets/artist/2722212

Follow @champdarts on social media

If you liked this episode, please rate us and give us a review. It will help us grow the show! And remember to subscribe so you don’t miss out on our monthly episodes and the latest news.