Ross Smith captured the Hungarian Darts Trophy with a commanding performance, crushing Gary Anderson 8‑2 in the Sunday final to secure his second European Tour title of the season. Smith posted a superb 101 average and hit 73% of his doubles, delivering an almost flawless finish at the MVM Dome.
The veteran Anderson never recovered from the early onslaught, and Smith’s dominance sealed a fourth victory of the day for the champion. From the opening round, Smith set the benchmark for scoring control. He opened his campaign with a 101 average against William O'Connor, punctuated by impressive 116 and 112 checkout finishes. In the last‑16, he edged fourth‑seed Jonny Clayton 6‑4, then dismantled 2023 champion Dave Chisnall 6‑2 in the quarter‑finals, guaranteeing a first‑time winner for the title.
His semi‑final against last year’s runner‑up Danny Noppert was the most lopsided match of the weekend’s latter stages, a 7‑3 victory that left Smith fresher for the final showdown. Anderson’s journey, although it ended in defeat, was the narrative thread of the tournament. The two‑time world champion arrived in Budapest without a European Tour win in 2026, yet announced his intent with a 105.27 average in a 6‑2 demolition of Krzysztof Ratajski, ending the Polish player’s bid for consecutive titles. What followed was a series of dramatic comebacks.
Anderson fired eight 180s to rally from 0‑3 down and narrowly beat eighth‑seed Stephen Bunting in a deciding leg. He repeated the feat against second‑seed Gian van Veen in a quarter‑final thriller, then produced arguably the most thrilling match of the event against Nathan Aspinall. Down 5‑6 and facing five match darts, Anderson conjured a 160 checkout to stay alive and ultimately won 7‑6, before the final proved too much for the seasoned Scot. The championship match capped a day of upsets that began with Aspinall eliminating Michael van Gerwen 6‑4 in the last‑16, overturning a 3‑1 deficit and ending the 2024 champion’s hopes for a second European Tour crown.
The previous day had already seen top seed Luke Humphries and defending champion Niko Springer bow out, meaning the tournament’s two most recent winners both fell before the final session. Aspinall’s path to the final was a study in resilience. After being out‑averaged by Ryan Joyce in his opening round, he survived on five 180s and a high volume of double attempts. His quarter‑final against Chris Dobey hinged on a brilliant 156 checkout, and he edged another deciding leg to progress.
Dobey himself had staged a comeback, rallying from 0‑4 down to beat Tom Sykes in a Saturday decider, then finishing Sunday’s afternoon session with a 170 finish to defeat sixth‑seed Josh Rock 6‑3. Dirk van Duijvenbode snapped a nine‑match losing streak by beating Luke Humphries on Saturday, becoming the first player into the quarter‑finals after a 6‑4 victory over Rob Cross, which halted the former world champion’s run of consecutive deciding‑leg escapes.
Danny Noppert, however, stopped van Duijvenbode’s momentum with a 6‑5 win. Springer’s title defence lasted a mere 14 minutes on Saturday, as he fell to Ryan Searle after missing the bull for a 164 that would have forced a decider.
With Humphries, Van Gerwen and Clayton also eliminated by Sunday afternoon, Gian van Veen rose to the highest seeded position remaining—only to be dispatched by Anderson. The tournament schedule was packed with action. On Sunday, August 30, the final saw Ross Smith defeat Gary Anderson 8‑2. The semi‑finals featured Smith’s 7‑3 win over Danny Noppert and Anderson’s 7‑6 nail‑biter against Nathan Aspinall.
Earlier rounds produced notable results such as Dirk van Duijvenbode’s 6‑5 victory over Noppert, Smith’s 6‑2 triumph over Dave Chisnall, and Anderson’s 6‑5 upset of Gian van Veen. The quarter‑finals also delivered drama, with Noppert edging van Duijvenbode 6‑5, Anderson surviving a 6‑5 battle with van Veen, and Aspinall prevailing 6‑5 over Chris Dobey. Saturday, August 29, featured a bustling afternoon session where Smith dispatched William O'Connor 6‑2, while Anderson breezed past Krzysztof Ratajski 6‑2.
The evening session saw Stephen Bunting dominate Jonas Masalin 6‑1, Jonny Clayton beat Laszlo Kadar 6‑3, and Dirk van Duijvenbode overcome Luke Humphries 6‑4. Friday’s opening day included early exits for big names; Michael van Gerwen fell 6‑4 to Gian van Veen, and Niko Springer was beaten 6‑1 by Ryan Searle.
Beyond the Hungarian event, the darts calendar continues with 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. Fans can stream the action and other top sports without a contract, ensuring uninterrupted access to the sport’s biggest moments. In summary, Ross Smith’s flawless run and Gary Anderson’s valiant but ultimately insufficient comeback defined the Hungarian Darts Trophy. The tournament delivered a blend of dominant performances, stunning upsets, and dramatic finishes that will be remembered as one of the most exciting European Tour events of the year.