Spellman wins CDC Cross-Border Challenge to book a return to MSG

Alex Spellman will return to Madison Square Garden later this year after defeating David Cameron in the final leg of the CDC Cross-Border Challenge in Michigan City on Saturday.

Spellman, a former CDC Continental Cup champion, landed a remarkable nine-darter on Friday’s opening night at Uptown Social, then defeated Keith Way, Jake Macmillan, and Cameron on Finals Day.

The 16-player event pitted eight American representatives against their Canadian counterparts over two days of competition, and Spellman took the win on a memorable weekend.

Spellman was the standout on Day One, scoring perfection in the penultimate leg of his 5-2 victory over Canada’s Sylvain Bourdeau.

The 35-year-old then defeated Keith Way by the same scoreline to get to the semi-finals, when he defeated Jake Macmillan in a tough match in which all 11 legs were thrown.

This set up a title match versus Cameron, and Spellman held off a late fightback from the Canadian veteran to qualify for the bet365 US Darts Masters and North American Championship.

Cameron, who opened his account with a sensational ten-dart leg, survived multiple match darts as he came back from 6-3 down to force a decider, only for Spellman to win with a 16-dart hold in the 13th and final leg.

Cameron averaged 97 to defeat Danny Lauby in a high-quality quarter-final match, then won a hard-fought battle against Grand Slam quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz in the last four.

Buntz was already guaranteed a spot in this year’s World Series of Darts, as were Tour Card Holders Matt Campbell, Lauby, and Jules van Dongen, who all failed to get past the first round on Friday.

Spellman will now participate in both the US Darts Masters and the North American Championship, which will be held in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden on May 31 & June 1.

2024 CDC Cross-Border Challenge

Uptown Social, Michigan City

Friday April 12

First Round

Alex Spellman 5-2 Sylvain Bourdeau

Keith Way 5-2 Jules van Dongen

Jacob Taylor 5-2 Larry Butler

Jake Macmillan 5-3 Leonard Gates

David Cameron 5-1 Doug Boehm

Danny Lauby 5-2 Steve Warnock

Stowe Buntz 5-1 John Part

Jim Long 5-3 Jason Brandon

Saturday April 13

Quarter-Finals

Alex Spellman 5-2 Keith Way

Jake Macmillan 5-2 Jacob Taylor

David Cameron 5-4 Danny Lauby

Stowe Buntz 5-1 Jim Long

Semi-Finals

Alex Spellman 6-5 Jake Macmillan

David Cameron 6-4 Stowe Buntz

Final

Alex Spellman 7-6 David Cameron