Day one of the US Darts Masters 2026 in New York delivered a thrilling mix of upsets and dominant performances. The biggest shock saw Canadian dark horse Jim Long defeat highly-fancied Josh Rock, while debutant Brayden Hall pushed Gerwyn Price to his limits in a memorable clash. Despite some early wobbles, top stars like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Gian Van Veen, and Stephen Bunting ultimately secured their spots in the quarter-finals, setting the stage for an exciting second day at Madison Square Garden.
Upsets and Close Calls: The Underdogs Roar
Jim Long Stuns Josh Rock in Tournament’s First Major Upset
The biggest headline of the day came from the match between debutant Josh Rock and Canada’s number one, Jim Long. Long started strong, holding his throw and then immediately breaking Rock’s serve thanks to a timely 180 and some crucial misses from Rock. While Rock, a former World Cup winner, fought back to level the game at 2-2, his struggles with hitting the crucial ‘doubles’ (the outer ring needed to finish a leg) allowed Long to regain the lead. The pair then traded legs, with Long finding himself 5-4 up and just one leg away from a monumental victory. In a nail-biting finish, Rock missed multiple darts to force a deciding leg, and Jim Long seized the opportunity, wrapping up the game to cause the first major shock of the tournament.
Brayden Hall Pushes Gerwyn Price to the Brink
Another debutant, young Canadian Brayden Hall, faced the formidable Gerwyn Price, a player eager to win his first US Masters title. Price began with a clinical 11-dart ‘break of throw’ (winning a leg when your opponent starts it), quickly establishing a lead. However, Hall showed incredible resilience. After Price suffered a rare ‘doubling disaster,’ Hall got on the scoreboard. He then produced a stunning comeback, hitting a clean 98 checkout and a 65 finish to win three consecutive legs and take a surprising 3-2 lead. Price, the former World Champion, eventually found his rhythm, breaking back and securing a 5-3 lead. Hall, however, wasn’t done, hitting a magnificent 113 checkout with Price waiting on a double to win, extending the match. Ultimately, Price closed out the victory in the next leg, but Hall’s gallant display truly announced his arrival on the wider darts stage.
Champions Hold Their Nerve: Progress for the Favorites
Gian Van Veen Secures Comfortable Debut Win
Making his Madison Square Garden debut, Gian Van Veen was looking to regain form. He faced fellow debutant Fred Krueger. The Dutchman started confidently, holding his opening throw. While Krueger held his own and even had chances to break, Van Veen remained clinical, punishing Krueger’s missed doubles to build a commanding lead. A crucial 125 checkout helped him consolidate his advantage, and he eventually wrapped up a comfortable win, securing his first victory in the iconic venue.
James Wade Overcomes Early Struggles for Quarter-Final Spot
Veteran James Wade, making his first appearance since 2022, had a tough draw against Adam Sevada, currently North America’s top player. Wade started strongly, securing an early break with a superb 144 checkout. He quickly built a 3-0 lead, even pinching a leg after Sevada missed four darts to get on the board. However, a ‘doubling disaster’ from Wade allowed Sevada to break back. Despite more missed doubles from Wade, Sevada couldn’t fully capitalise, and “The Machine” ultimately composed himself to close out the match, booking his spot in the quarter-finals against Gerwyn Price.
Luke Littler Battles Through to Victory
The reigning World Champion, Luke Littler, took to the stage, but his opening match was far from straightforward. Despite some ‘unconvincing darts at doubles,’ Littler managed to get on the scoreboard. His opponent, Cameron, capitalised on Littler’s missed opportunities, hitting a 105 checkout to scrape a hold when he should have been broken. Cameron even held a surprising 4-3 lead despite averaging in the low 70s. However, Littler’s class eventually shone through as he won back-to-back legs to take a 5-4 lead, then comfortably held his throw to secure the win.
Luke Humphries Begins Title Defence with Dominant Display
Defending champion Luke Humphries started his campaign against the ever-entertaining Leonard Gates. Humphries quickly asserted his dominance, securing an opening break of throw with a timely 180 before holding to make it 2-0. While Gates managed to get a leg on the board, Humphries continued to apply pressure, capitalising on Gates’ missed doubles to extend his lead. Back-to-back legs took the defending champion to the brink of victory, which he sealed comfortably in the very next leg.
Jonny Clayton’s Near Nine-Darter Highlights Strong Performance
The 2008 UK Open finalist Gary Mawson faced Jonny Clayton. “The Ferret” (Clayton) broke throw in the opening leg and then consolidated his lead with a trademark 121 finish. Mawson showed flashes of brilliance with a classy 78 finish, but Clayton was in superb form. He fired in back-to-back 180s and came agonisingly close to a perfect nine-dart finish, eventually settling for a ten-dart leg to go 4-1 up. The two then exchanged legs, and Clayton comfortably closed out a 6-2 victory without missing a single dart at double in the final leg.
Stephen Bunting Bounces Back with Convincing Win
After a few disappointing results on the World Series circuit, Stephen Bunting was looking for a strong start. Following a disastrous start from his opponent, Spellman, Bunting quickly established a comfortable 2-0 lead. Despite some missed doubles allowing Spellman to get a leg, Bunting maintained control. After trading a couple of legs, Bunting sealed the final game of the night by winning back-to-back legs, securing a convincing victory.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
