Dawson Murschell survived six match darts to knock out world number six James Wade in the first round of the inaugural US Darts Masters on Friday.
The 21-year-old Canadian overcame the nerves to beat the multiple time major winner 6-5, hitting tops to clinch a memorable win after Wade had missed six darts at doubles to get over the line in the decider.
Murschell took out 92 on double 18 to take an early 3-1 lead, before Wade hit back with consecutive legs, which included a 108 checkout, to level up at 3-3.
The next four legs all went with throw to take the first round clash into an 11th and final leg, and it looked like Wade was heading for victory as he came to the board with tops left.
But six missed match darts from the 34-year-old then allowed Murschell to come back and win the match on tops.
“This is incredible, I don’t have many words to describe this. I still can’t believe James missed that many darts,” Murschell said.
“There’s so much more to come from me and I loved every minute of that. Awesome!”
Murschell will next face Gerwyn Price, who survived a scare to knock out newly-crowned North American champion Willard Bruguier 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Las Vegas.
The Welshman made a slow start as Bruguier moved into a 3-1 lead, but three legs on the spin helped Price come back and lead 4-3.
Bruguier levelled again before Price landed double eight to move to within a leg of victory, and after his American opponent missed two darts to level the score it was Price who secured his place in the final day.
World number one Michael van Gerwen was in a ruthless mood as he whitewashed Chris White with a 104 average.
The top seed finished the match in style by taking out 132 with two bullseyes and double 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Dave Richardson.
“I can only worry about myself, I don’t think about my opponent if I can help it. If I play as well as I can then I will win,” the reigning world champion said.
Canada’s Richardson produced a shock as he beat World Series debutant Max Hopp 6-3 in the first round.
The North American Championship runner-up started in style by checking out 121 in the opening leg, before he broke the German youngster Hopp’s throw to go 2-0 up.
Richardson hit six out of his 10 attempts at doubles to progress in to the quarter-finals where van Gerwen awaits.
World number two Gary Anderson was also in impressive form as he averaged more than 102 in a 6-0 whitewash win over Jayson Barlow, which set up a last eight clash with Raymond van Barneveld, who beat David Cameron 6-3 to also progress.
“Barney beat me in Shanghai, so hopefully I can get one back over on him tomorrow,” Anderson said.
“We came to Vegas seven years ago and it was nothing like this. The crowd have been amazing.”
UK Open champion Peter Wright also booked his place in the quarter-finals as he recovered from a slow start to beat Shawn Brenneman 6-3.
The world number three was punished for a sloppy start as Brenneman took an early 3-1 lead, but after the Canadian missed two darts at tops to take a 4-2 lead it was Wright who took the leg and went on to win 6-3.
Wright will now face Daryl Gurney in the quarter-finals on Saturday after the Northern Irishman defeated Dennis Sayre 6-2 in his World Series of Darts debut.
Gurney averaged 98.58, hit six 180s and took out 154 to enjoy a winning start to his first tournament in the World Series.
US Darts Masters
Friday July 14
First Round
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Dennis Sayre
Gerwyn Price 6-4 Willard Bruguier
Dave Richardson 6-3 Max Hopp
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 David Cameron
Dawson Murschell 6-5 James Wade
Peter Wright 6-3 Shawn Brenneman
Michael van Gerwen 6-0 Chris White
Gary Anderson 6-0 Jayson Barlow
Saturday July 15 (12pm local time, 8pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Dawson Murschell v Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Richardson
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright v Daryl Gurney
Semi-Finals
Van Gerwen/Richardson v Murschell/Price
Anderson/Van Barneveld v Wright/Gurney
Final
v
All matches best of 15 legs
lovethedartsmag.com 