Stowe Buntz was the stand-out performer as six American players enjoyed wins on the opening night of the 2023 CDC Continental Cup.
Buntz, who is set to make his Paddy Power World Darts Championship debut in December, averaged 104.14 in a 5-2 win over Canada's Jake Macmillan to open his challenge for Continental Cup glory.
Buntz will now face veteran star Larry Butler in Saturday night's quarter-finals, with the 1994 World Matchplay winner having edged out Jim Long in a deciding leg.
Alex Spellman and David Cameron, the other World Championship qualifiers following this year's CDC Pro Tour, also enjoyed first round wins in New York.
Spellman whitewashed Ryan Vander Weit and now plays Jason Brandon, who was a 5-3 winner against Doug Boehm.
Cameron, meanwhile, spearheads the Canadian challenge following his 5-3 win over Gary Mawson, and he now faces Danny Lauby after the left-hander saw off Keith Way by the same margin.
Jacob Taylor shares Canadian hopes with Cameron on Finals Day after he whitewashed JT Davis, setting up a meeting with Leonard Gates - who was a 5-3 winner against Jacob Womack.
Watch the CDC Continental Cup Finals Day on PDCTV from 1900 local time (0000 BST) on Saturday October 21 - subscription options include a PDCTV One-Day Pass!
The winner of the CDC Continental Cup will qualify for the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton next month.
2023 CDC Continental Cup
Friday October 20
First Round
Alex Spellman 5-0 Ryan Vander Weit
Jason Brandon 5-3 Doug Boehm
David Cameron 5-3 Gary Mawson
Danny Lauby 5-3 Keith Way
Stowe Buntz 5-2 Jake Macmillan
Larry Butler 5-4 Jim Long
Leonard Gates 5-3 Jacob Womack
Jacob Taylor 5-0 JT Davis
Saturday October 21
Quarter-Finals
Alex Spellman v Jason Brandon
David Cameron v Danny Lauby
Stowe Buntz v Larry Butler
Leonard Gates v Jacob Taylor
Semi-Finals
Spellman/Brandon v Cameron/Lauby
Buntz/Butler v Gates/Taylor
Final
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