World No. 2 Luke Humphries is set to meet Dirk van Duijvenbode, a semi‑finalist from the recent World Matchplay, 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 form after clinching the latest Players Championship title in Leicester on Wednesday. The tournament also marked a historic moment on Friday when Beau Greaves became the first female competitor to take part in a European Tour event. Greaves gave former world champion Rob Cross a formidable challenge, pushing the 2018 champion to a deciding leg before ultimately falling 6‑5. Her performance demonstrated that women can compete at the highest level and has opened the door for greater gender diversity in professional darts.
Other notable first‑round match‑ups include Gian van Veen versus qualifier Nandor Major, while Michael van Gerwen begins his quest for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown against James Hurrell. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton will test Hungary’s own Laszlo Kadar, who caused a major upset on Friday night by beating Daryl Gurney 6‑5. Last year’s champion, Niko Springer, faces Dutch contender Maik Kuivenhoven. The schedule for Saturday, August 29, is split into two sessions.
The afternoon session at 12:00 pm features: - Ross Smith vs William O'Connor - Wessel Nijman vs Dave Chisnall - Jermaine Wattimena vs Andrew Gilding - Danny Noppert vs Ritchie Edhouse - Ryan Searle vs Niko Springer - Luke Woodhouse vs Rob Cross - Gary Anderson vs Krzysztof Ratajski - Chris Dobey vs Tom Sykes The evening session at 6:00 pm includes: - Stephen Bunting vs Jonas Masalin - Jonny Clayton vs Laszlo Kadar - Madars Razma vs Keane Barry - Luke Humphries vs Dirk van Duijvenbode - Michael van Gerwen vs James Hurrell - Gian van Veen vs Nandor Major - Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Joyce - Josh Rock vs Joe Cullen Fans can stream the action through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing option. For those preferring traditional broadcast, Sky Sports will carry live coverage of the tournament, and a range of highlights and video recaps will be available after each session.
Listeners can also tune into the "Love the Darts" podcast for in‑depth analysis and interviews. Sunday, August 30, will host the third round in the afternoon at 12:00 pm, 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. The opening day, Friday, August 28, saw a busy afternoon session with results such as Kevin Doets losing 4‑6 to Jonas Masalin, Andrew Gilding cruising to a 6‑0 win over Milan Biro, and Ritchie Edhouse beating Connor Scutt 6‑1.
Niko Springer dispatched Maik Kuivenhoven 6‑1, while William O'Connor overcame Samuel Price 6‑2. Keane Barry recorded a 6‑3 victory over Ryan Joyce, and Cristo Reyes defeated Dave Chisnall 6‑3. In the evening session, Dirk van Duijvenbode dominated David Pisek 6‑1, while Daryl Gurney narrowly lost 5‑6 to Laszlo Kadar. Krzysztof Ratajski edged Callan Rydz 6‑5, and Joe Cullen beat James Hurrell 6‑3.
Rob Cross was edged out by Beau Greaves 5‑6, and Nandor Major fell 5‑6 to Niels Zonneveld. The night concluded with a dramatic 5‑6 loss for Damon Heta against James Hurrell. Looking ahead, the darts calendar continues with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world No. 1 Luke Littler will defend his title from September 28 to October 4.
The Grand Prix will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports, and fans can stream the event alongside other top‑tier sports without a contractual commitment. Overall, the Hungarian Darts Trophy has already delivered a blend of historic milestones, thrilling upsets, and high‑quality darts. With Luke Humphries back in the mix, a pioneering female competitor in Beau Greaves, and a roster of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the tournament promises to keep spectators engaged through each round, culminating in a final that could see a new champion crowned or a repeat performance from a seasoned star.