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, marking his first appearance on the European Tour since his victory at the 2026 Belgian Darts Open in March. Humphries has arrived in top form, having captured the most recent Players Championship title in Leicester on Wednesday, a win that underlines his sharpness heading into the Hungarian event. The tournament also made headlines on Friday when Beau Greaves broke new ground by becoming the inaugural female competitor in a European Tour competition.
Greaves pushed 2018 world champion Rob Cross to a nail‑biting deciding leg, ultimately falling 6‑5, but her performance demonstrated that women can compete at the highest level of the sport. Other notable first‑round match‑ups included Gian van Veen versus qualifier Nandor Major, and Michael van Gerwen, who is chasing a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown, opening his campaign against James Hurrell. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton will take on home‑grown talent Laszlo Kadar, who shocked Daryl Gurney with a 6‑5 win on Friday night.
Last year’s champion Niko Springer faces Dutch player Maik Kuivenhoven in what promises to be a tightly contested clash. 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 pits Stephen Bunting against Jonas Masalin, Jonny Clayton against 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 via the NOW platform without a contract, and the tournament will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Additional darts content, including highlights, video clips, and the "Love the Darts" podcast, is available for enthusiasts who want deeper analysis and behind‑the‑scenes insight.
The competition continues on Sunday, August 30, with the third‑round afternoon session starting at 12:00 pm and the evening session at 6:00 pm leading into the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and the final later that night. The Friday, August 28, first‑round results saw Kevin Doets lose 4‑6 to Jonas Masalin, Andrew Gilding dominate Milan Biro 6‑0, and Ritchie Edhouse dispatch Connor Scutt 6‑1. Niko Springer recorded a comfortable 6‑1 win over Maik Kuivenhoven, while William O'Connor beat Samuel Price 6‑2.
In the evening, Dirk van Duijvenbode cruised past David Pisek 6‑1, and Laszlo Kadar edged Krzysztof Ratajski 6‑5. Rob Cross narrowly defeated Adam Leek 6‑5, and Beau Greaves fell 5‑6 to Niels Zonneveld after a hard‑fought battle.
Looking ahead, the darts calendar also highlights the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one Luke Littler will defend his title from September 28 to October 4. The Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available for viewers who prefer online access.
Overall, the Hungarian Darts Trophy promises a blend of established stars, emerging talent, and historic moments, such as Greaves' pioneering participation. With Humphries back in action and the field stacked with high‑caliber competitors, fans can expect a week of high‑intensity darts, memorable upsets, and the kind of drama that keeps the sport thriving on the European Tour.