The opening day of the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden saw only one PDC representative fail to make it through to the final day of action, with Josh Rock dumped out by Jim Long. Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price were both pushed hard but advanced, while defending champion Luke Humphries also progressed.
Jim Long, a PDC Tour Card holder who proved his quality just this past weekend in Bratislava, produced a famous 6-4 win over Josh Rock. Long started with a 41 checkout and, after Rock missed chances from 96 and 56, snatched the second leg. Rock broke back with a 70 checkout, but Long went 4-3 up with a timely 180 and sealed the win with a 54 checkout after Rock missed 64 and 4.
Luke Littler, known for slow starts, was 4-3 down to David Cameron before fighting back. Cameron went 4-3 up with a 180 and an 82 checkout, but Littler hit back on double 20, broke for 5-4, and completed the win on double 16. Gerwyn Price averaged 91 in a 6-4 victory over Brayden Hall. Price broke immediately for 1-0 with an 81 checkout and surged 2-0 up, but Hall led 3-2 with a 98 checkout and 65. Price regained control, breaking on double 20 and consolidating on double four, before sealing the win with 60 after Hall hit a 113 checkout.
Luke Humphries impressed with a 6-1 win over Leonard Gates, averaging 91. He opened on double 12, pinned double 20 to break, and held. After Gates missed break chances at 3-1, Humphries hit double eight for 4-1, then double 20 and double five to close out. Jonny Clayton produced an exhibition of finishing, including a famous 121 checkout with a finger point, to beat Gary Mawson 6-1. Clayton averaged 98, hitting two 180s in a row and finishing on double 16, then double 20 and a 56 checkout.
Gian van Veen defeated Fred Krueger 6-1 with an early 90s average, breaking on double 10, hitting 125 to hold for 4-1, then closing on double 20 and double four. James Wade saw off Adam Sevada 6-3 in a war of attrition, averaging 82 to Sevada's 77. Wade hit 180s in back-to-back legs with a 144 and 80 checkout, broke again with a 46, and eventually sealed it with an 82 combo finish after missed doubles. Stephen Bunting eased past Alex Spellman 6-2, averaging around 90, hitting double eight to break, consolidating on 64, and finishing with a 68 checkout after Spellman missed 124 on the bull.