Summary:
The first round of the 2026 US Darts Masters produced its first real upset in New York, with Jim Long defeating Josh Rock 6-4. The other favourites generally lived up to expectations, from Luke Humphries to Luke Littler, and the quarter-final line-up is now known ahead of the second night’s action.
Full first-round results
This first session was played as best of 11 legs, a short format that always leaves a little room for a quick turnaround. That is precisely what happened in the Rock v Long match, whilst the rest of the PDC field largely avoided any upsets. The evening thus produced a fairly straightforward draw: one major upset, a few closer matches than expected, and a pecking order that remains largely intact ahead of the quarter-finals.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Gian van Veen vs Fred Krueger | 6-1 |
| Gerwyn Price vs Brayden Hall | 6-4 |
| James Wade vs Adam Sevada | 6-3 |
| Josh Rock v Jim Long | 4-6 |
| Luke Littler v David Cameron | 6-4 |
| Luke Humphries vs Leonard Gates | 6–1 |
| Jonny Clayton v Gary Mawson | 6–2 |
| Stephen Bunting vs Alex Spellman | 6-2 |
Looking at the draw as a whole, the conclusion is simple: the first night served mainly to identify a core group of favourites still in the running, whilst clearly leaving room for a local story that could help the tournament grow. That is exactly what a World Series weekend aims to achieve.
Jim Long provides the big story of the night
The standout result, therefore, remains Jim Long’s victory over Josh Rock. On paper, Rock went into the match as the more established PDC player and one of the most closely watched fixtures of the first round. But Darts Nerd had already identified this clash as one of the trickiest of the evening, because Long is the only North American to hold a Tour Card and one of the most consistent performers in the local contingent. That warning has now materialised into a concrete result.
This victory immediately changes the outlook for the weekend. Instead of a draw dominated exclusively by the big names from the main circuit, the New York crowd retains a credible representative for the rest of the tournament. In a short-format event, this is a factor that really counts: a first-round upset doesn’t just affect the match in question; it also reshapes the commercial, sporting and emotional narrative of the entire second day.
Humphries solid, Littler on his guard, Price and Wade up to the task
Apart from the Rock-Long match, the evening largely confirmed the pecking order. Defending champion Luke Humphries comfortably beat Leonard Gates 6-1. Gian van Veen also secured a clear-cut victory over Fred Krueger, whilst Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting booked their places in the quarter-finals with two 6-2 wins.
Luke Littler also progressed, but his 6-4 win over David Cameron serves as a reminder that there was little room for error in this first round. Gerwyn Price had to see his match through to the very end against Brayden Hall, and James Wade got the job done against Adam Sevada without letting the match slip away. In other words, there was only one real upset in the draw, but several matches confirmed that New York was not giving anyone a free ride, not even the top seeds.
The quarter-final draw is now set
Day two will see the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all take place in quick succession. The first evening therefore served mainly to set up four fairly predictable fixtures, featuring a mix of established favourites and an unexpected contender in the top half of the draw.
| Quarter-finals | Quick read |
|---|---|
| Luke Littler vs Jim Long | The quarter-final that is a direct continuation of the previous day’s surprise. |
| Gerwyn Price vs James Wade | A clash of experience between two players capable of wrapping up a short match very quickly. |
| Luke Humphries vs Stephen Bunting | The defending champion takes on a player capable of picking up the pace very quickly. |
| Gian van Veen vs Jonny Clayton | A quarter-final that’s more evenly matched than it appears, pitting Dutch pace against Welsh solidity. |
The most high-profile quarter-final will inevitably be Littler versus Long, as it immediately continues the standout story of the first round. But the Humphries–Bunting clash also carries real sporting significance, whilst Price–Wade and van Veen–Clayton could send the draw in several different directions.
Why this first night already matters for what’s to come
The US Darts Masters had been billed as a major showcase for the World Series of Darts in New York, featuring a strong PDC line-up and several North American players capable of capitalising on home advantage. After just one session, that promise has already been fulfilled. The big names are still in the running, but Josh Rock’s elimination means the weekend won’t be a mere parade of favourites.
For Darts Nerd, the focus for the second day is now clear: we’ll need to keep an eye on both the title race – still wide open between Humphries, Littler, Price, Wade, van Veen, Clayton and Bunting – and Jim Long’s ability to continue his stunning run. In the space of one evening, New York has produced its result, its surprise and its most bankable quarter-final. That is precisely what gives this early stage of the tournament its editorial value.
