Leonard Gates celebrated 2024 CDC Continental Cup glory on Saturday night to seal his place in next month’s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.
Gates - who becomes the first player to win multiple CDC Continental Cup titles - will make his big stage return in Wolverhampton after overcoming Doug Boehm, Alex Spellman and Jim Long to triumph in Philadelphia.
Gates opened his account in Friday’s first round with a narrow 5-3 victory against his compatriot Nick Linberg, before rattling off five consecutive legs in the last eight to beat Doug Boehm 6-3, converting two ton-plus checkouts in the process.
The 53-year-old then ran out a 7-5 winner against 2022 champion Alex Spellman in the semi-finals, overturning a 3-1 deficit with back-to-back 12-darters followed by a 106 outshot midway through the contest.
This set up a winner-takes-all showdown against Canadian Jim Long, who after winning the first leg, failed to double his tally as Gates raced into a 4-1 lead going into the first interval.
Long responded impressively to the setback, as the Ontario-born veteran broke the Gates throw in 14 darts and backed that up with an impressive 15-darter to trail by just one leg.
Gates broke straight back with a 15-darter of his own, but Long persevered as he continued his pursuit for his first CDC Continental Cup title, producing a three-leg burst and taking out a crucial 87 checkout to lead 7-6.
However, after forcing a last-leg shoot-out with a 16-dart riposte, it was Gates who came out on top in the decider, surviving two match darts from Long before pinning double eight to secure his second CDC Continental Cup title.
The accomplished American - who will also star in this year's World Darts Championship - will now make his second appearance in the Grand Slam of Darts, which takes place from November 9-17 at the WV Active Aldersley.
Gates has also confirmed his qualification for both the bet365 2025 US Darts Masters and the bet365 North American Championship, which returns to the iconic Madison Square Garden next year.
Long, who starred in the 2024 edition, fell just short in his title bid, having dumped out reigning champion Stowe Buntz and 2019 Evolution Tour champion Jake Womack to secure his spot in Saturday's decider.
Buntz – who was bidding to retain his CDC Continental Cup crown - got off to a superb start, beating Jacob Taylor 6-3 in the quarter-finals, producing legs of 14, 18, 15, 14, 16 and 19 darts on his way to victory.
In the other quarter-final tie, former champion Spellman beat number four seed and compatriot Adam Sevada 6-3, reeling off legs in 13, 15 and 14 darts on his way to setting up a semi-final clash against Gates.
2024 CDC Continental Cup
Saturday October 20
Quarter-Finals
Leonard Gates 6-3 Doug Boehm
Alex Spellman 6-3 Adam Sevada
Jim Long 6-4 Jake Womack
Stowe Buntz 6-3 Jacob Taylor
Semi-Finals
Leonard Gates 7-5 Alex Spellman
Jim Long 7-6 Stowe Buntz
Final
Leonard Gates 8-7 Jim Long