THE 2019 Dafabet US Darts Masters gets underway on Thursday in Las Vegas, and to mark the third staging of the tournament we take a look back at the top five darting moments from the 'Entertainment Capital of the World.'
Gary Anderson will defend his title at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino against the likes of Michael van Gerwen and eight North American representatives from July 4-5.
Worldwide TV coverage of the US Darts Masters and North American Darts Championship will include live broadcasts through DAZN in the USA, Canada and Brazil.
UK fans will be able to watch the US Darts Masters through ITV4, with the North American Championship available worldwide on video.pdc.tv.
Tickets available via www.axs.com
From the Las Vegas Desert Classic (2002-2009) to the US Darts Masters (2017-), we have seen plenty of darting drama, and we've ranked our top five ahead of Thursday’s curtain-raiser.
THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD SERIES IS ALL ABOUT!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 14, 2017
James Wade is KNOCKED OUT by "Awesome" Dawson#VegasDarts pic.twitter.com/5NTgV8Nvzb
5. Awesome Dawson announces himself in 17
Canadian youngster Dawson Murschell announced his talent to a worldwide audience with a shock win over James Wade on the opening day of the 2017 US Darts Masters.
The then 21-year-old overcame big-stage nerves, having made his TV debut a day earlier in the North American Championship, to win 6-5 after Wade missed six match darts in a dramatic deciding leg at The Tropicana.
Murschell used the historic victory as a springboard to winning his Tour Card in January 2018 and has since represented his country twice in the World Cup of Darts, claiming another monumental win over Van Gerwen earlier this year.
4. Anderson comes back to win it in 18
Last year's final saw Anderson recover from 3-0 and 4-1 down to beat Rob Cross 8-4 and claim his sixth World Series of Darts title in front of an adoring crowd.
Anderson lit up the Mandalay Bay with three ton-plus averages on his way to his first Vegas crown, including a spectacular 112.63 in his opening victory over DJ Sayre.
The Scot followed that up with wins over Murschell and Wade, before seeing off Cross to enjoy another global success.
3. Party time in 06!
The Desert Classic's first staging at Mandalay Bay in 2006 saw John Part pick up his first televised PDC title since being crowned World Champion three years earlier.
The Canadian legend overcame Baxter, Roland Scholten, Terry Jenkins and Wes Newton as he won through to the final.
In the final Part recorded a 6-3 triumph over Raymond van Barneveld, who was playing in the event for the first time.
2. Taylor at his best in 08
The 2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic saw Taylor claim his fourth Desert Classic title, bouncing back from a first round defeat to Mark Dudbridge in the 2007 event and a semi-final loss to Van Barneveld in 2006.
The Stoke thrower posted averages above 100 in all but one match en route to the final where he beat Wade with a stunning 105.53 average.
In total, Taylor won the Desert Classic an impressive five times from eight stagings of the tournament.
CHAMPION | @MvG180 is the 2017 US Darts Masters Champion#VegasDarts pic.twitter.com/I3n7aFC5gy
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 15, 2017
1. Van Gerwen victorious in PDC's Vegas return
Following an eight-year absence from Vegas, 2017 marked another historic moment for darts in America as Van Gerwen beat Daryl Gurney 8-6 in the final of the inaugural US Darts Masters.
The Dutchman produced a series of dazzling displays in World Series of Darts event, losing just one leg en route to the final.
Van Gerwen took out 98 to complete a brilliant 12-darter to see off an impressive Gurney, as he secured the win and back-to-back World Series triumphs.