Matt Campbell makes history with North American Darts Championship triumph with big Ally Pally caveat

Matt Campbell etched his name into the history books by becoming the first player ever to successfully defend the North American Darts Championship title. In an all-Canadian final, the 35-year-old defeated compatriot Jim Long 6–3 to once again lift the trophy and claim the $10,000 winner’s cheque.

Twelve months on from his triumph at Madison Square Garden, Campbell proved untouchable once more, delivering a dominant performance throughout the tournament.

His title defense began with a statement victory in the quarterfinals, as he swept past Jason Brandon 6–1 while averaging a staggering 103.98—the first three-figure average ever recorded in the tournament’s history. He followed that with a clinical 6–2 win over Stowe Buntz in the semifinals, maintaining a near-97 average and a 55% checkout rate.

In the final, Campbell was briefly behind but quickly turned the tide, surging into a 3–1 lead. Long twice cut the deficit to a single leg, but Campbell kept his composure and sealed the match with back-to-back finishes on double 20.

Despite the defeat, Jim Long can look back on a strong campaign. He opened with a 6–4 win over Adam Sevada and produced a standout performance in the semifinals, dismantling Danny Lauby 6–1. That match included a show-stopping 132 checkout—two bullseyes followed by double 16.

Ultimately, though, Long had no answer for Campbell’s relentless scoring and finishing in the final. Still, the result marks an encouraging step forward in his first full season as a PDC Tour Card holder.

Stowe Buntz reached the semifinals with a dominant 6–0 whitewash of Jules van Dongen, who continues to struggle with a nerve issue in his throwing arm. Danny Lauby rounded out the final four after a convincing 6–1 victory over Leonard Gates, reeling off five consecutive legs in the process.

In a surprising twist, Campbell’s victory does not come with a berth at either the World Darts Championship or the Grand Slam of Darts. Due to his current position inside the world’s top 64, he is ineligible for the automatic qualification spots linked to this tournament.

Instead, the World Championship spot will go to the highest-ranked non-qualified player on the final 2025 CDC ProTour Order of Merit. Meanwhile, the Grand Slam place will be awarded to the winner of this year’s CDC Continental Cup.