The 2025 US Darts Masters is set to ignite Madison Square Garden this weekend, June 27-28, as the world’s top darts players descend on New York City for the fourth stop on the 2025 World Series of Darts. The iconic venue, hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year, will see eight elite Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) stars square off against eight of North America’s finest players in a thrilling two-day tournament. Among the headliners are reigning world champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, defending champion Rob Cross, and darts legend Michael van Gerwen, all vying for glory in the Big Apple.
The first round, kicking off on Friday, June 27 at 7:00 PM EST, promises high-stakes action as the PDC’s best face off against their North American counterparts. Luke Littler, the 18-year-old sensation known as “The Nuke,” opens his campaign against PDC Tour Card holder Jules van Dongen, a formidable American challenger. Littler, fresh off a family holiday in Spain, expressed confidence ahead of the event, stating, “I’m feeling very, very confident. I’ve just had a family holiday in Spain, but now I’m here, I’ll obviously practise before I play.” His recent World Cup of Darts disappointment, where he and Humphries suffered a shock exit against Germany, has only fueled his determination to make a statement in New York. Littler, who reached the semifinals last year before falling to Gerwyn Price, is the betting favorite at 2/1 odds, and fans are eager to see if he can claim his first US Darts Masters title.
World number one Luke Humphries, meanwhile, will take on Stowe Buntz, a charismatic American known as the “Neon Nightmare.” Buntz, who made waves with a quarter-final run at the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts, is no stranger to competing against the sport’s elite. Humphries, coming off a Premier League Darts victory over Littler in May, has faced scrutiny following the World Cup loss but remains a top contender at 7/2 odds. The matchup against Buntz is expected to be a crowd-pleaser, with Humphries’ precision pitted against Buntz’s fearless style.
Defending champion Rob Cross, who lifted the trophy in 2024, faces American Danny Lauby in the first round. Cross, seeded second, is a 12/1 underdog but brings a wealth of experience and a knack for performing under pressure. Stephen Bunting, the top seed after winning the Bahrain and Nordic Darts Masters earlier this year, takes on Jason Brandon, while Michael van Gerwen, a two-time US Darts Masters champion, meets Leonard Gates. Van Gerwen, returning after a month-long break following personal challenges, issued a bold warning to his rivals: “My head says I have to smash it.” His matchup against Gates could set the stage for a blockbuster second-round clash with Gerwyn Price, who faces Adam Sevada.
Other first-round matchups include Nathan Aspinall versus Canada’s Matt Campbell, dubbed the “Ginger Ninja,” and Damon Heta, making his New York debut, against Jim Long. Gerwyn Price, a strong contender at 11/2 odds, rounds out the PDC stars. The tournament’s shoot-out format, known for producing upsets, adds an element of unpredictability, with analysts suggesting Price could emerge as a surprise champion.
The North American contingent, including Campbell, Long, Lauby, van Dongen, Gates, Sevada, Brandon, and Buntz, is eager to make a mark on home soil. Campbell, a PDC Tour Card holder, is chasing his first US Masters win after falling to Littler last year. Buntz, with his Grand Slam pedigree, is poised to challenge Humphries, while van Dongen aims to upset the teenage prodigy Littler.
The US Darts Masters will unfold over two days, with the first round on Friday leading to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final on Saturday. Broadcast live on DAZN in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and on PDCTV globally, the event is set to captivate darts fans worldwide. With significant prize money on the line and a star-studded field, the 2025 US Darts Masters promises to be a defining moment in the sport’s growing popularity in America. As Littler, Humphries, and their rivals take aim at the oche, Madison Square Garden is poised for an unforgettable spectacle.
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