Showbiz Luke Littler sends New York darts fans wild with thrilling 120 checkout missing a treble
World Champion dazzles and fans at Madison Square Gardens lup up the darts
Showbiz Luke Littler lit up Madison Square Gardens with hat-trick finish as he stormed out of the blocks in the Big Apple.
The Nuke got his New York campaign underway with a stylish victory over Jules van Dongen and produced the exhibition finale to seal the deal.
Littler was in control and on his way into the next round as he had the Dutch Dragon toiling before capping off the win in thrilling style. The teenage World Champion raised the roof in The Theater by sealing his 6-1 win with a 120 checkout of three double tops.
Crowds lapped up the entertainment and the reigning World Series of Darts Finals champion now meets Nathan Aspinall in Saturday's quarter-finals as he bids to claim his maiden New York triumph.
Aspinall, the 2019 US Darts Masters winner in Las Vegas, landed eight 180s and averaged 105 in a sensational 6-2 win over Canadian No.1 Matt Campbell.
He said: 'I knew I had a tough game against Matt and I had to produce some good numbers. The 180s were flowing and it was a great game and an amazing crowd. I'd love to win another US Darts Masters title. I've not won one since 2019 and I think I'm a better player than that.'
While it was joy for the Lancashire and there were wins for Michael van Gerwen on comeback and World No.1 Luke Humphries, it was misery for Rob Cross who had the defence of his title ended within six legs by Danny Lauby in a whitewash whipping.
The Indiana-born left-hander has lost three times previously in the US Darts Masters first round and admitted: 'That was amazing. Every win is difficult; I've not had a whole lot of stage experience this year so there's nothing but positives.
'I know how good Rob is and he didn't play to his standard and I was fortunate enough to take advantage. I'm really happy and looking forward to Saturday. I've not really done myself justice on the tour so I needed this and I'm going to build on this.
'The North American Darts Championship is obviously the most important thing for my ranking and Ally Pally, so I'm really gunning for that one, but obviously I want to do every one of my supporters proud and I might as well win them both!'
Humphries came from 4-3 down against Stowe Buntz and van Gerwen and 2024 finalist Gerwyn Price will meet in a tasty quarter-final on Saturday following impressive opening victories.
Price shone in his 6-2 victory over American qualifier Adam Sevada, while Van Gerwen marked his return to action by averaging almost 100 to dispatch Leonard Gates 6-1. Damon Heta punished nine missed doubles from Jim Long to claim a 6-1 win over the Canadian, averaging almost 99 on his New York debut to set up a clash with Jason Brandon, who stunned Stephen Bunting.
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