Smith reigns in the Garden to claim his second North American Darts Championship

Smith reigns in the Garden to claim his second North American Darts Championship

On an exciting Saturday afternoon in New York, Jeff Smith defeated his Canadian World Cup partner Matt Campbell to win his second bet365 North American Championship title.

In front of an excited crowd in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, the New Brunswick veteran edged over Campbell in a tense last-leg cliffhanger to win the $10,000 title.

The annual event featured eight US and Canadian talents, with Smith the lone former champion in the field after recent winners Leonard Gates and Danny Baggish failed to qualify.

Smith, who defeated world number two Peter Wright on Friday to reach the quarter-finals of the US Darts Masters, capped a spectacular 24 hours by ruling supreme in New York by defeated compatriot Campbell to reclaim the title.

Long, who stunned reigning champion Michael Smith in Friday’s US Darts Masters, hit a ten-darter to lead 5-3 in their quarter-final, only for Smith to win three straight legs.

Smith then defeated Van Dongen to advance to Saturday’s final, converting six of ten doubles attempts to win 6-1.

Smith and Campbell traded throw holds to start the afternoon’s showdown, before the 2018 winner followed up back-to-back 180s with a 14-darter to take a 2-1 lead.

The 47-year-old increased his lead to 4-2 in leg six with a clinical 117 combination, only for Campbell to respond with legs of 13 and 17 darts to tie the game at four apiece.

Campbell subsequently missed a tops dart to lead 5-4, and Smith capitalised with a nerveless 80 finish, but his opponent was given a reprieve seconds later when a missing match dart allowed the Hamilton ace in to extend the game to an 11th leg.

Smith, on the other hand, replied by starting the decisive leg with his third 180, then pinning double eight to win after Campbell was unable to threaten a 114 checkout.

 

“It feels good,” said Smith. “Winning in Las Vegas was special, but to win in New York – this is unreal.

“I think this is the venue for North American darts. We had a ton of support here, it’s unbelievable.

“I have played well all year, just without any results, so I needed a confidence-booster and this is definitely a confidence-booster!”

Smith will line up alongside Campbell in the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt from June 15-18, and is excited about renewing their partnership.

“Matt pounds you on the treble 20 and if you don’t stay with him, you’re not getting chances. That’s how good that guy is,” he added.

“He will be a top 16 player in the PDC. I 100% believe that, and I cannot wait to partner him in the World Cup of Darts in a couple of weeks.”

Campbell advanced to Saturday’s final with 6-2 wins over Jason Brandon and Alex Spellman, averaging 92 in both matches before falling short in a thrilling final.

Earlier in the afternoon, CDC Continental Cup champion Spellman defeated JT Davis 6-3 in a duel of debutants, hitting a spectacular 11-darter midway through the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Van Dongen came back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Jake Macmillan in the last eight, despite the Canadian’s magnificent 164 skin-saver in leg 10 to force a decider.

On Saturday evening, Smith and Long face past champions Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals of the North American Championship, which precedes the final stages of the US Darts Masters.

Bet365 North American Darts Championship

Saturday June 3, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York

Quarter-Finals

Matt Campbell 6-4 Jason Brandon

Alex Spellman 6-3 JT Davis

Jeff Smith 6-5 Jim Long

Jules van Dongen 6-5 Jake Macmillan

Semi-Finals

Matt Campbell 6-2 Alex Spellman

Jeff Smith 6-1 Jules van Dongen

Final

Jeff Smith 6-5 Matt Campbell

Under PDC Rule 3.9, Jeff Smith (third year of Tour Card) is not eligible to qualify for the 2023/24 World Darts Championship or 2023 Grand Slam of Darts by virtue of winning the North American Championship.

The qualifying place will be awarded to a further Championship Darts Corporation representative, with details to be confirmed in due course.