Adam Sevada beats Jim Long (Photo PDC)
Adam Sevada stormed to his maiden North American Darts Championship title with a dominant 6-1 success against Jim Long.
Friday’s showpiece in the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden saw American number one Sevada up against Canada’s premier player Long, with Sevada scooping the $10,000 top prize.
The 40-year-old produced a trio of dominant displays to triumph in New York, conceding just four legs in victories over Alex Spellman, Gary Mawson and Long to break new ground in his career.
Sevada kicked off his campaign with a superb 102.48 average – the second highest in the tournament’s history – in a ruthless six-leg whitewash of Spellman.
The California-born star then ran out a 6-3 winner against 2008 UK Open runner-up Mawson, defying a spirited fightback from the 63-year-old to set up a blockbuster clash against top seed Long.
Sevada started superbly, backing up a 14-dart hold with a clinical two-dart 92 checkout to double his lead, only for Long to halve the deficit with a clinical 98 combination.
However, Sevada restored control with another three-leg flurry to race into a 5-1 lead, before overcoming some late nerves to capture the title via double two.
“I feel absolutely amazing. I’m really emotional,” admitted Sevada, the top-ranked player on the CDC circuit.
“Today I felt really relaxed and I’m glad to be able to prove what I can actually do on the stage.
“My darts were going well from the very first match and I felt great all day.”
Sevada’s victory also confirms his qualification for the 2026/27 World Darts Championship and November’s Grand Slam of Darts, and he’s relishing his latest opportunity to impress on the big stage.
“It’s an amazing opportunity that the CDC and PDC have given us,” continued Sevada, who made his Alexandra Palace debut last year.
“To able to do this is a dream come true.
“Whether it’s a turning point in my career or not I don’t think so, but everybody knows what I can do when I’m on my game, so we’ll see what happens.”
Long – also the runner-up in last year’s North American Darts Championship – overcame Brayden Hall and Fred Krueger to continue his impressive form in the Big Apple.
The Canadian dumped out Josh Rock on Day One of the US Darts Masters on Thursday, and will return to face world number one Luke Littler on Finals Day later this evening.
However, he was unable to capture his maiden North American Championship crown, despite surviving a match dart in the penultimate leg of his semi-final tussle against Krueger.
“Today was a tough day for me. I didn’t feel comfortable at all,” conceded Long.
“It’s funny how this event can bring so much more pressure than playing the top eight players in the world.
“I didn’t perform well enough and that’s it. I’m disappointed without a doubt.”
Krueger had booked his spot in the semi-finals with an impressive 6-4 success against 2022 North American Champion Leonard Gates – the only former winner in this year’s field.
Mawson was the evening’s other quarter-final winner, surviving multiple match darts to edge past David Cameron in a battle of the darting veterans.
RESULTS
Quarter-Finals
Jim Long 6-1 Brayden Hall
Fred Krueger 6-4 Leonard Gates
Adam Sevada 6-0 Alex Spellman
Gary Mawson 6-5 David Cameron
Semi-Finals
Jim Long 6-5 Fred Krueger
Adam Sevada 6-3 Gary Mawson
Final
Adam Sevada 6-1 Jim Long
