World number two Luke Humphries is set to meet former World Matchplay semi‑finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy. Humphries has been absent from the European Tour circuit since his victory at the 2026 Belgian Darts Open in March, but he has arrived back in fine form after clinching the most recent Players Championship title in Leicester on Wednesday. The opening round on Friday produced a historic moment when Beau Greaves became the first female competitor to appear in a European Tour event. Greaves gave 2018 world champion Rob Cross a stern test, pushing the match to a deciding leg before ultimately falling 6‑5.
Her performance highlighted the growing depth of women’s darts and demonstrated that the sport is becoming increasingly inclusive. In other first‑round action, Dutch hopeful Gian van Veen will face qualifier Nandor Major, while Michael van Gerwen launches his campaign to secure a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown against James Hurrell. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton will take on home‑grown talent Laszlo Kadar, who caused an upset on Friday night by edging out Daryl Gurney 6‑5.
Last year’s champion, Niko Springer, is slated to meet fellow Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven. The schedule for Saturday, August 29, is split into two sessions. The afternoon session at 12:00 pm features Ross Smith versus William O'Connor, Wessel Nijman against Dave Chisnall, Jermaine Wattimena versus Andrew Gilding, Danny Noppert versus Ritchie Edhouse, Ryan Searle versus Niko Springer, Luke Woodhouse versus Rob Cross, Gary Anderson versus Krzysztof Ratajski, and Chris Dobey versus Tom Sykes. The evening session at 6:00 pm includes Stephen Bunting versus Jonas Masalin, Jonny Clayton versus Laszlo Kadar, Madars Razma versus Keane Barry, Luke Humphries versus Dirk van Duijvenbode, Michael van Gerwen versus James Hurrell, Gian van Veen versus Nandor Major, Nathan Aspinall versus Ryan Joyce, and Josh Rock versus Joe Cullen.
Fans can stream the action through the NOW platform without a contract, and the tournament will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Additional darts content such as highlights, video clips, and the "Love the Darts" podcast are available for enthusiasts who want to stay up‑to‑date. Sunday, August 30, will host the third round in the afternoon session at noon, followed by the evening session at 6:00 pm which will feature the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and the final. The tournament’s progression promises several high‑stakes matches as the field narrows.
Friday, August 28, saw the first‑round results. In the afternoon session, Kevin Doets fell 4‑6 to Jonas Masalin, Andrew Gilding recorded a dominant 6‑0 win over Milan Biro, Ritchie Edhouse beat Connor Scutt 6‑1, Niko Springer dispatched Maik Kuivenhoven 6‑1, William O'Connor overcame Samuel Price 6‑2, and Keane Barry edged Martin Schindler 6‑2. Ryan Joyce secured a 6‑3 victory over Cristo Reyes, while Dave Chisnall defeated Andras Borbely 6‑3. The evening session produced more excitement: Dirk van Duijvenbode thrashed David Pisek 6‑1, Daryl Gurney narrowly lost 5‑6 to Laszlo Kadar, Krzysztof Ratajski edged Callan Rydz 6‑5, and Joe Cullen beat James Hurrell 6‑3.
Adam Leek was eliminated by Rob Cross 5‑6, Beau Greaves fell 5‑6 to Niels Zonneveld, and Nandor Major was beaten by Cameron Menzies 1‑6. Tom Sykes overcame Damon Heta 6‑5, while James Hurrell secured a 6‑5 win over an opponent not listed in the original snippet. Looking ahead, the darts calendar continues with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one Luke Littler will defend his title from September 28 to October 4.
The event will be televised live on Sky Sports and can also be streamed alongside other premier sporting events without the need for a long‑term contract. Overall, the Hungarian Darts Trophy offers a compelling mix of established stars and emerging talent. Humphries’ return adds another layer of intrigue, especially given his recent form and the challenge posed by a seasoned opponent in van Duijvenbode. Meanwhile, the historic participation of Beau Greaves signals a positive shift toward greater gender diversity in professional darts.
As the tournament advances through its rounds, spectators can expect tightly contested matches, surprising upsets, and high‑quality play that will shape the rankings and set the tone for the remainder of the season.