2019 Dafabet US Darts Masters / North American Championship – Day Three

After an epic final against defending champion Jeff Smith, Danny Baggish was crowned 2019 North American Champion!  Pocketing a prize of $10,000, Baggish is also heading to London to compete in the 2020 William Hill World Championship!

Thanks to some clinical finishing, the 35-year-old roared into a 3-0 lead.  The next four legs were shared, all going with the darts, and it looked like the game was drawing to a close.  The Canadian, however, had other ideas, and some huge shots under intense pressure meant that it was soon five legs each.  Baggish had the throw in the eleventh, but Smith gave himself a dart at the bull for the title.  Unfortunately, a noise from the crowd unsettled him, and he missed.  That gave the American three darts at 60, and he only needed two to secure a memorable win.

In a superb semi-final, Baggish appeared in deep trouble 5-3 down to Leonard Gates before landing a brilliant 140 out to close the gap.  That shot was a real game-changer, and the Floridian clinched the match with a fine brace of 15-darters, opening both with a maximum 180.

The second-semi-final was just as remarkable, but for a different reason; seven of the ten legs were won against the throw!  Smith led Darin Young from the start, and despite both players missing doubles, never relinquished the lead.

Sadly, as far as the US Darts Masters, North American hopes were ended early as the PDC seeds won all eight first round clashes.  Not that it was easy, but the experience in pressure situations told.

Reigning North American Champion Jeff Smith took Peter Wright to an eleventh and deciding leg, but a nice 15-darter against the throw sealed victory for the Scot.  Jim Long, Gary Mawson, Darin Young, and Elliot Milk all got within two legs of victory.  Danny Baggish took just a solitary leg from Daryl Gurney, but actually produced the best performance of the North Americans with a tidy average of 92.6.

The US Darts Masters continues tomorrow (Friday).

Dafabet North American Championship
Quarter-Finals
Danny Baggish 6 – 2 Elliot Milk
Leonard Gates 6 – 3 Shawn Brenneman
Darin Young 6 – 4 Jim Long
Jeff Smith 6 – 2 Gary Mawson

Semi-Finals
Danny Baggish 6 – 5 Leonard Gates
Jeff Smith 6 – 4 Darin Young

Final
Danny Baggish 6 – 5 Jeff Smith

Dafabet US Darts Masters
First Round
(1) Michael van Gerwen 6 – 4 Darin Young
Michael Smith 6 – 4 Jim Long
(4) Gary Anderson 6 – 4 Elliot Milk
Gerwyn Price 6 – 4 Gary Mawson
(2) Rob Cross 6 – 0 Leonard Gates
Nathan Aspinall 6 – 2 Shawn Brenneman
(3) Daryl Gurney 6 – 1 Danny Baggish
Peter Wright 6 – 5 Jeff Smith

Quarter-Finals
(1) Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Smith
(4) Gary Anderson vs Gerwyn Price
(2) Rob Cross vs Nathan Aspinall
(3) Daryl Gurney vs Peter Wright

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