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 campaign in Budapest on Saturday night. Humphries entered the event as the clear favorite after world No.
2 status and a recent Players Championship victory in Leicester, especially with Luke Littler opting out of the competition. However, his first European Tour appearance since clinching the Belgian Darts Open title in March concluded a day before the scheduled finals. Van Duijvenbode, who reached the semi‑finals of the World Matchplay earlier in the summer, seized the momentum with a spectacular 140 checkout on a double‑top finish, putting him just one leg away from victory. He then closed out the match, 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 consecutive legs after trailing 3-2 and posted an impressive 98 average. "Luke is a phenomenal player, but I think I'm okay as well," van Duijvenbode remarked, noting his recent improvement.
"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." Other notable results from the tournament added further intrigue. Michael van Gerwen rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat James Hurrell 6-4, keeping his hopes alive for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown and guaranteeing a place in the finals day.
In the last‑16, van Gerwen will meet Nathan Aspinall after "The Asp" overcame Ryan Joyce 6-4 despite being out‑averaged; Aspinall's five 180s and a higher volume of double opportunities propelled the 15th seed forward. Gian van Veen delivered a dominant performance, whitewashing Hungarian qualifier Nandor Major 6-0 while missing only three darts at a double and finishing with a flawless 167 checkout. Similarly, Northern Irish talent Josh Rock recorded a 6-0 win over an off‑form Joe Cullen. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton defeated home favourite László Kádár 6-3; Kádár had earlier shocked Daryl Gurney on Friday night.
Keane Barry also advanced after stringing together five straight legs to beat Madars Razma 6-2, earning his first European Tour finals appearance in three years. Although Barry's opponent, Razma, left Budapest with the evening's most spectacular checkout—a 158 finish on the bull—Barry's consistency proved decisive. The tournament made history before the weekend's action even began. Beau Greaves became the first woman to compete in a European Tour event, pushing 2018 world champion Rob Cross to a deciding leg before ultimately 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 bullseye checkout, just a day after his tight victory over Greaves. Defending champion Niko Springer saw his reign end swiftly when Ryan Searle beat him 6-4 in a match that lasted only 14 minutes.
Searle hit a 121 bullseye break, while Springer's final opportunity was a missed bull for a 164 checkout that would have forced a decider. Gary Anderson announced his arrival with a statement performance, securing his first European Tour title of 2026 in style. The two‑time world champion averaged 105.27 in a 6-2 demolition of Krzysztof Ratajski.
Dave Chisnall also posted a ton‑plus average, eliminating 13th seed Wessel Nijman 6-2. Chris Dobey mounted a comeback from 4-0 down to edge Tom Sykes 6-5, keeping his quest for a maiden European Tour trophy alive. Ross Smith posted an average above 101 as he dispatched William O'Connor 6-2. Elsewhere, Jermaine Wattimena transferred his Leicester title form into a 6-4 victory over Andrew Gilding, while Danny Noppert survived six missed match darts before overcoming Ritchie Edhouse 6-4.
The schedule for the concluding sessions was packed: Sunday, August 30, featured matches such as Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen vs.
Nathan Aspinall, and Chris Dobey vs. Josh Rock. Saturday’s second‑round afternoon session saw Ross Smith dominate William O'Connor, Dave Chisnall defeat Wessel Nijman, and several other high‑stakes clashes. The evening session highlighted Stephen Bunting’s 6-1 win over Jonas Masalin, Jonny Clayton’s 6-3 triumph over László Kádár, and the decisive 6-3 victory of van Duijvenbode over Humphries.
Friday’s opening round showcased a mix of emerging talent and seasoned pros, with Jonas Masalin beating Kevin Doets, Andrew Gilding thrashing Milan Biro, and Niko Springer overwhelming Maik Kuivenhoven. The evening session featured van Duijvenbode’s 6-1 demolition of David Pisek, Rob Cross’s narrow 6-5 win over Beau Greaves, and a series of other compelling matches. Looking ahead, fans are already speculating about the upcoming BoyleSports World Grand Prix.
World No. 1 Luke Littler will defend his title, and the tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4. Darts enthusiasts can also stream the sport and other top events through NOW, a contract‑free platform.
Overall, the Hungarian Darts Trophy delivered a blend of surprise upsets, historic milestones, and high‑quality darts that will be remembered throughout the season. Humphries' early exit serves as a reminder of the sport's unpredictability, while van Duijvenbode's breakthrough performance signals his rising status on the European Tour circuit.