Luke Humphries endured an unexpected 6-3 defeat at the hands of Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, ending the tournament favourite's run in Budapest on Saturday night. Humphries, who entered the event as the clear favourite after world No.
2 ranking and a fresh Players Championship title in Leicester, was forced to bow out just a day before the finals day. His early exit was all the more surprising given that the world No. 2 had been in superb form, having claimed the Belgian Darts Open title in March and arriving in Hungary with high expectations.
Van Duijvenbode, who earlier this summer reached the semi‑finals of the World Matchplay, delivered a decisive performance, sealing the match with a spectacular 140 checkout on a double‑top finish that put him within a leg of victory. He then closed out the encounter, securing his spot in Sunday’s finals day. The win also snapped a nine‑match losing streak that Van Duijvenbode had endured against the world No. 2, as he rattled off four straight legs after trailing 2‑3 and posted an impressive average of 98.
After the match, Van Duijvenbode reflected on his own progress, noting, “Luke is a phenomenal player, but I think I’m okay as well. I’m happier in life at the moment. I’ve had a lot of struggles, but I feel better, life is better and I’m getting better now hopefully.” The Dutchman, a three‑time runner‑up on the European Tour circuit, emphasized his improved mental state and confidence, which seemed to translate into his on‑stage composure.
The rest of the tournament featured a series of notable results. Michael van Gerwen rallied from 1‑3 down to defeat James Hurrell 6‑4, keeping his hopes alive for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown and booking a place in the finals day.
He will meet Nathan Aspinall in the last‑16 after Aspinall overcame Ryan Joyce 6‑4 despite being out‑averaged, hitting five 180s and capitalising on a higher volume of double attempts to secure the 15th seed. Gian van Veen produced a masterclass in finishing, whitewashing Hungarian qualifier Nandor Major 6‑0 while missing just three darts at a double and completing a stunning 167 checkout. Similarly, Josh Rock delivered a 6‑0 victory over an out‑of‑form Joe Cullen, demonstrating the depth of talent on display. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton dispatched home favourite Laszlo Kadar 6‑3, while Keane Barry surged back with five consecutive legs to beat Madars Razma 6‑2, earning his first European Tour finals day appearance in three years.
Razma, however, left Budapest with a highlight – a spectacular 158 checkout that finished on the bull, earning him the "shot of the night" accolade. The tournament also made history when Beau Greaves became the first woman to compete in a European Tour event. She pushed 2018 world champion Rob Cross to a deciding leg before eventually losing 6‑5. Cross needed a second consecutive last‑leg escape, surviving two 136 finishes and missed match darts from Luke Woodhouse before clinching the win with a 130 checkout on the bull.
Defending champion Niko Springer saw his reign end abruptly as Ryan Searle beat him 6‑4 in a match that lasted only 14 minutes. Searle’s 121 break included a bull‑seye finish, while Springer's final attempt—a missed bull for a 164 checkout—would have forced a decider.
Gary Anderson announced his return to form with a dominant 6‑2 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski, posting a 105.27 average for his first European Tour win of 2026. Dave Chisnall also impressed, posting a ton‑plus average as he eliminated 13th seed Wessel Nijman 6‑2. Chris Dobey staged a comeback from 0‑4 down to edge Tom Sykes 6‑5, keeping his dream of a maiden European Tour title alive, while Ross Smith averaged over 101 in a 6‑2 win against William O'Connor. Jermaine Wattimena carried his Leicester title momentum into a 6‑4 win over Andrew Gilding, and Danny Noppert survived six missed match darts to defeat Ritchie Edhouse 6‑4.
The schedule for the remaining sessions was packed: Sunday afternoon featured matches such as Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall, and Ross Smith vs Jonny Clayton. Saturday’s second‑round afternoon session saw Ross Smith, Dave Chisnall, Jermaine Wattimena, Danny Noppert, Ryan Searle, and Gary Anderson all secure victories, while the evening session produced wins for Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Keane Barry, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, and Nathan Aspinall. Friday’s opening round highlighted strong performances from Jonas Masalin, Andrew Gilding, Milan Biro, Ritchie Edhouse, Connor Scutt, Niko Springer, Maik Kuivenhoven, William O'Connor, Samuel Price, Keane Barry, Martin Schindler, Ryan Joyce, Cristo Reyes, Dave Chisnall, and Andras Borbely.
The evening session saw Dirk van Duijvenbode, Laszlo Kadar, Daryl Gurney, Krzysztof Ratajski, Callan Rydz, Joe Cullen, Adam Leek, Rob Cross, Beau Greaves, Nandor Major, Niels Zonneveld, Tom Sykes, Cameron Menzies, James Hurrell, and Damon Heta all take part. Looking ahead, fans are already speculating about the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world No. 1 Luke Littler will defend his title from September 28 to October 4 on Sky Sports. Darts enthusiasts can stream the action without a contract through NOW, and additional coverage includes live highlights, podcasts, and in‑depth analysis to keep viewers engaged throughout the season.