The final day of the Hungarian Darts Trophy unfolded with a dramatic shift in the tournament landscape after both the pre‑event favorite Luke Humphries and last year’s champion Niko Springer were eliminated on Saturday. Humphries, who entered the event as the world number two and top seed in a field missing Luke Littler, suffered a 6‑3 defeat at the hands of Dirk van Duijvenbode. The Dutchman not only broke a personal nine‑match losing streak against Humphries but also secured a place in the Sunday round of 16, where he will meet Rob Cross – a player renowned for surviving multiple last‑leg deciders in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen kept his quest for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy title alive by clawing back from a 3‑1 deficit to overcome James Hurrell. This comeback sets up a quarter‑final clash with Nathan Aspinall.
In another notable result, Dutch qualifier Gian van Veen produced a dominant 6‑0 whitewash of home‑grown participant Nandor Major, earning a showdown with Jermaine Wattimena. Gary Anderson delivered the standout performance of the weekend so far, posting an impressive 105.27 average as he dismantled Krzysztof Ratajski.
Anderson’s next opponent will be Stephen Bunting. Ryan Searle, who astonishingly ended Springer’s title defence in just 14 minutes, now faces last year’s runner‑up Danny Noppert. Ross Smith is slated to meet fourth seed Jonny Clayton, while Chris Dobey will take on Josh Rock. Both Dave Chisnall and Keane Barry have also progressed to the next stage.
The tournament had already made history earlier in the week when Beau Greaves became the first woman to compete in a European Tour event. On Friday, Greaves pushed former world champion Rob Cross to a deciding leg before eventually falling 6‑5, marking a significant milestone for women’s darts.
**Sunday, 30 August – Afternoon Session (12 pm)** - Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Rob Cross - Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall - Ross Smith vs Jonny Clayton - Ryan Searle vs Danny Noppert - Stephen Bunting vs Gary Anderson - Chris Dobey vs Josh Rock - Jermaine Wattimena vs Gian van Veen - Dave Chisnalal vs Keane Barry* **Evening Session (6 pm)** – Quarter‑finals, Semi‑finals, Final to follow. Fans can stream the action via NOW without a contract, and the tournament will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Additional highlights, video recaps, and the "Love the Darts" podcast are available for followers who want deeper analysis.
**Saturday, 29 August – Round Two** *Afternoon Session* saw Ross Smith defeat William O'Connor 6‑2, while Wessel Nijman fell 2‑6 to Dave Chisnall. Jermaine Wattimena edged Andrew Gilding 6‑4, and Danny Noppert beat Ritchie Edhouse 6‑4. Ryan Searle dispatched Niko Springer 6‑4, and Luke Woodhouse narrowly lost to Rob Cross 5‑6. Gary Anderson overcame Krzysztof Ratajski 6‑2, Chris Dobey edged Tom Sykes 6‑5.
*Evening Session* featured Stephen Bunting cruising past Jonas Masalin 6‑1, Jonny Clayton beating Laszlo Kadar 6‑3, and Madars Razma overcoming Keane Barry 6‑2. In a key upset, Humphries fell 3‑6 to Dirk van Duijvenbode. Michael van Gerwen beat James Hurrell 6‑4, while Gian van Veen white‑washed Nandor Major 6‑0. Nathan Aspinall defeated Ryan Joyce 6‑4, and Josh Rock thrashed Joe Cullen 6‑0.
**Friday, 28 August – Round One** *Afternoon Session* opened with Jonas Masalin edging Kevin Doets 6‑4, Andrew Gilding beating Milan Biro 6‑0, and Ritchie Edhouse dispatching Connor Scutt 6‑1. Niko Springer recorded a 6‑1 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven, while William O'Connor overcame Samuel Price 6‑2. Keane Barry secured a 6‑2 win over Martin Schindler, and Ryan Joyce defeated Cristo Reyes 6‑3.
Dave Chisnall also advanced with a 6‑3 win over Andras Borbely. *Evening Session* saw Dirk van Duijvenbode dominate David Pisek 6‑1, Daryl Gurney lose a tight 5‑6 battle to Laszlo Kadar, and Krzysztof Ratajski edging Callan Rydz 6‑5.
Joe Cullen beat Adam Leek 6‑3, while Rob Cross edged a 6‑5 win over Beau Greaves. Niels Zonneveld fell 5‑6 to Nandor Major, and Cameron Menzies dispatched Tom Sykes 6‑1. Damon Heta narrowly lost to James Hurrell 5‑6. The Hungarian Darts Trophy not only showcased high‑quality darts but also highlighted the growing inclusivity of the sport, as demonstrated by Greaves’ historic participation.
With the quarter‑finals set to feature a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents, the remaining matches promise to deliver both suspenseful finishes and potential upsets. Looking ahead, the next major event on the calendar is the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, scheduled for 28 September to 4 October. World number one Luke Littler will defend his title, and fans can watch the entire tournament live on Sky Sports or stream it through various online platforms.
The Grand Prix will continue the trend of high‑stakes competition, offering another opportunity for the sport’s top players to showcase their skill on a global stage.