Alex Spellman produced a magical fightback to secure 2022 CDC Continental Cup glory in New York on Saturday night, denying Doug Boehm in a gripping last-leg tussle to complete an 8-7 victory.
Spellman trailed 7-3 in Saturday’s showpiece, before reeling off five consecutive legs to complete the comeback and confirm his qualification for the 2023 US Darts Masters.
The final event of the Championship Darts Corporation season saw 16 North American stars battling it out for the coveted title, but it was American star Spellman who claimed the spoils.
However, he was forced to recover from 5-2 and 7-3 adrift against his compatriot Boehm, who seized the initiative with a superb 129 checkout in leg five.
Boehm - who featured in last year’s US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden – squandered multiple match darts for an 8-4 victory in leg 12, and he wasn’t afforded another opportunity.
Spellman capitalised on his reprieve to reduce the arrears to 7-5, and after restoring parity at seven apiece with legs of 13 and 14 darts, he sealed the deal with an 18-dart hold in a dramatic finale.
Spellman came through a number of gruelling tussles en route to victory, recovering from 4-3 down to edge out Canada’s Keith Way 5-4 in his last 16 tie.
He then defied a spirited display from Stowe Buntz to prevail in another deciding-leg affair, relinquishing a 5-2 lead before regaining his poise with a 16-dart hold to advance.
Spellman produced his best performance of the evening in his semi-final success against Canadian star David Cameron, averaging 97, landing four 180s and taking out 136 before wrapping up a 7-5 victory.
Boehm’s progress to the final was more serene, as he followed up resounding wins over Canadian duo Jacob Taylor and Jim Long with a hard-fought 7-4 victory against Joey Lynaugh in the semi-finals.
Boehm posted a stunning 105 average in his last eight victory against Long, firing in six 180s, registering a trio of 12-darters and converting 121 and 128 finishes in back-to-back legs.
Cameron - who will make his World Darts Championship debut in December – defeated his compatriot Ross Snook and former UK Open finalist Gary Mawson to reach the last four.
Lynaugh kicked off his campaign with a 6-2 success against former World Matchplay champion Larry Butler and overcame his fellow countryman Ryan Vander Weit before succumbing to Boehm.
Butler was one of several high-profile names to exit in the last 16, with North American Championship winner Leonard Gates and former World Cup qualifier John Norman Jr bowing out at the same stage.