Luke Humphries suffered an unexpected 6-3 loss to Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, ending the tournament favourite's run in Budapest on Saturday evening. Humphries, who entered the event as the clear favourite after world No. 2 ranking and a recent Players Championship victory in Leicester, was looking to add another European Tour title to his résumé.
However, his first appearance on the European Tour circuit since capturing the Belgian Darts Open in March was cut short, just one day before the finals day. Van Duijvenbode, who had earlier this summer reached the semi‑finals of the World Matchplay, seized the momentum with a spectacular 140 finish on double‑top to bring himself within a leg of victory. He then held his nerve, closing out the match and securing a place in Sunday's finals day. The win also snapped a nine‑match losing streak that the Dutchman had endured against the world No.
2, as he rattled off four straight legs after trailing 3-2 and posted an impressive average of 98. "Luke is a phenomenal player, but I think I'm okay as well," Van Duijvenbode said after the match, noting his recent personal improvements. "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 tournament produced several other noteworthy results. Michael van Gerwen rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat James Hurrell 6-4, keeping his hopes alive for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown and booking his own spot on the finals day lineup.
In the last‑16, van Gerwen will face Nathan Aspinall, who edged past Ryan Joyce 6-4 despite being out‑averaged. Aspinall's five 180s and a higher volume of double attempts helped the 15th seed advance.
Gian van Veen delivered a dominant performance, white‑washing Hungarian qualifier Nandor Major 6-0 while missing only three darts at a double and finishing with a brilliant 167 checkout. Similarly, Northern Irish hopeful Josh Rock recorded a 6-0 win over an off‑form Joe Cullen. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton overcame local favourite László Kádár 6-3, while Keane Barry stormed back from a slow start to claim a 6-2 victory over Madars Razma, stringing together five consecutive legs. Barry’s win marked his first appearance on a European Tour finals day in three years, even though Razma produced the night’s most spectacular checkout – a 158 finish that landed on the bull.
The event also made history when Beau Greaves became the first woman to compete in a European Tour tournament. Greaves 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 missing match darts from Luke Woodhouse before clinching the win with a 130 bull checkout.
Defending champion Niko Springer saw his reign end abruptly when Ryan Searle defeated him 6-4 in a match that lasted just 14 minutes. Searle’s 121 break, capped with a bull finish, proved decisive, while Springer missed a bull for a 164 checkout that would have forced a decider.
Gary Anderson announced his arrival on the tournament’s afternoon session with a statement win, posting a 105.27 average in a 6-2 dismantling of Krzysztof Ratajski – his first European Tour victory of 2026. Dave Chisnall also impressed, averaging over 100 in a 6-2 triumph over 13th seed Wessel Nijman.
Chris Dobey staged a dramatic comeback, overturning a 4-0 deficit to beat Tom Sykes 6-5 and keep his maiden European Tour title hopes alive. Ross Smith posted a 101+ average in a 6-2 victory over William O'Connor, while Jermaine Wattimena transferred his Leicester title form into a 6-4 win over Andrew Gilding.
Danny Noppert survived six missed match darts before edging Ritchie Edhouse 6-4. The schedule for the remainder of the tournament was packed with high‑stakes clashes.
Sunday, August 30, featured an afternoon session at 12 p.m. with matches such as 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, and Jermaine Wattimena vs. Gian van Veen.
The evening session continued with further knockout battles, culminating in the finals day where the remaining eight competitors will vie for the trophy. Earlier rounds saw a flurry of action: Saturday’s round‑two afternoon session produced six‑2 victories for Ross Smith over William O'Connor, Dave Chisnall over Wessel Nijman, and Gary Anderson over Krzysztof Ratajski, among others.
The evening session delivered notable upsets, including Dirk van Duijvenbode’s 6-3 win over Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen’s 6-4 triumph over James Hurrell. Friday’s opening round featured a mixture of seasoned pros and emerging talent. Highlights included Jonas Masalin’s 6-4 win over Kevin Doets, Andrew Gilding’s 6-0 demolition of Milan Biro, and Niko Springer’s 6-1 victory over Maik Kuivenhoven. The evening session saw van Duijvenbode dominate David Pisek 6-1 and Rob Cross survive a tight 6-5 battle against Beau Greaves.
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world No. 1 Luke Littler will defend his title. The event runs from September 28 to October 4 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through the NOW platform without a contract. Overall, the Hungarian Darts Trophy has delivered a blend of surprise upsets, historic milestones, and high‑quality darts, setting the stage for an exciting finals day where the remaining eight will compete for the coveted title.