Set Play Boosts Buntz in Magic Darts Masters Win

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Top seed Stowe Buntz captured his sixth career CDC Tour title on Saturday, defeating Gary Mawson 5-3 in the final of the 2025 Magic Darts Masters—which saw the debut of set play on the Championship Darts Circuit main tour.

Buntz, who dropped just four sets from the quarterfinals onward, delivered a composed and clinical display in the final, holding off a spirited challenge from the veteran sixth seed hungry for a return to the winners circle. The title came at the right time for the Virginia man, as he righted a ship that seemed to be adrift since his last win in Chicago in 2024 – adding critical points to his Order of Merit total and putting daylight between him and the competition as he strives for a return to the big stage in New York City.

‘The Neon Nightmare’ opened with a straight-sets win over Larry Butler in the quarterfinals before taking out Adam Sevada 4-1 in the semis. Sevada and Danny Young both made back-to-back semifinal appearances after deep runs in Friday’s Winmau Darts Championship.

Gary Mawson earned his spot in the final with a convincing 4-1 semifinal win over Young, following a solid 3-1 victory over Kiley Edmunds in the quarters. Three-time World Champion John Part continued his resurgence, reaching another quarterfinal with a win over David Cameron earlier in the day.

Cameron may have exited early, but he posted the tournament’s highest average at 91.00—narrowly edging Buntz’s 90.98. Cameron, Kiley Edmunds, and Brandon Goddard shared top honors in the 180 count with eight apiece. Also notable this weekend for both the CDC and Stowe was the debut of Tour’s youngest Tour Card Holder, 16 year old Stowe Buntz, Jr.

The 2025 CDC season continues June 7–8 as the Tour shifts to Cambridge, Ontario for Events 3 and 4, along with the final qualifier for the US Darts Masters and North American Championship at Madison Square Garden.