Luke Humphries suffered a shock 6-3 defeat to Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy as the tournament favourite crashed out of Budapest on Saturday night. With Luke Littler skipping the event, the world No 2 had arrived as the man to beat and in prime form after winning Wednesday's Players Championship event in Leicester, but his first European Tour outing since lifting the Belgian Darts Open title in March ended a day short of finals day. Van Duijvenbode, a World Matchplay semi-finalist this summer, produced the flourish of the match with a 140 finish on tops-tops to move within a leg of victory before sealing his place in Sunday's Finals Day Victory ended Van Duijvenbode's nine-match losing run against the world No 2, the Dutchman reeling off four consecutive legs from 3-2 adrift and averaging 98." "Luke is a phenomenal player, but I think I'm okay as well," said Van Duijvenbode – a three-time runner-up on the European Tour circuit.
"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." Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen recovered from 3-1 down to beat James Hurrell 6-4 and keep alive his bid for a second Hungarian Darts Trophy crown, sealing his place in Sunday's finals day. He'll meet Nathan Aspinall in the last 16 after 'The Asp' defeated Ryan Joyce 6-4 despite being out-averaged, with five 180s and the greater volume of chances at a double carrying the 15th seed through.
Gian van Veen was imperious in whitewashing Hungarian qualifier Nandor Major 6-0, missing just three darts at a double in a finishing masterclass and converting a sublime 167 finish along the way. Josh Rock also managed a 6-0 triumph as the Northern Irishman overcame an off-form Joe Cullen. Fourth seed Jonny Clayton defeated home hope Laszlo Kadar, who stunned Daryl Gurney on Friday night, 6-3.
Keane Barry is also through after reeling off five consecutive legs to beat Madars Razma 6-2 and reach a first European Tour finals day in three years – although the Latvian left Budapest with the shot of the night, a 158 checkout completed on the bull. The tournament had already made history before the weekend, with Beau Greaves becoming the first woman to compete in a European Tour event on Friday and pushing 2018 world champion Rob Cross all the way to a deciding leg before losing 6-5. Cross needed a second successive last-leg escape, surviving two 136 finishes and missed match darts from Luke Woodhouse before sealing a 6-5 win with a 130 checkout on the bull, a day on from his decider against Beau Greaves.
Earlier in the day, defending champion Niko Springer's reign ended as Ryan Searle beat him 6-4, in a match that lasted just 14 minutes. Searle pinned the bull for a 121 break on his way through and Springer's last chance went with a missed bull for a 164 checkout that would have forced a decider. Gary Anderson made the statement of the afternoon, a first European Tour win of 2026 delivered in style as the two-time world champion averaged 105.27 in a 6-2 dismantling of Krzysztof Ratajski, while Dave Chisnall produced a ton-plus average of his own to dump out 13th seed Wessel Nijman 6-2.
Chris Dobey fought back from 4-0 down to beat Tom Sykes 6-5 and keep alive his pursuit of a maiden European Tour title, while Ross Smith averaged over 101 in beating William O'Connor 6-2. Elsewhere, Jermaine Wattimena carried his Leicester title-winning form into a 6-4 win over Andrew Gilding and Danny Noppert survived six missed match darts before seeing off Ritchie Edhouse 6-4. Sunday August 30Afternoon Session - 12pmDirk van Duijvenbode v Rob CrossMichael van Gerwen v Nathan AspinallRoss Smith v Jonny ClaytonRyan Searle v Danny NoppertStephen Bunting v Gary AndersonChris Dobey v Josh RockJermaine Wattimena v Gian van VeenDave Chisnall v Keane Barry Saturday August 29Round TwoAfternoon Session - 12pmRoss Smith 6-2 William O'ConnorDave Chisnall 6-2 Wessel NijmanJermaine Wattimena 6-4 Andrew GildingDanny Noppert 6-4 Ritchie EdhouseRyan Searle 6-4 Niko SpringerRob Cross 6-5 Luke WoodhouseGary Anderson 6-2 Krzysztof RatajskiChris Dobey 6-5 Tom Sykes Evening Session - 6pmStephen Bunting 6-1 Jonas MasalinJonny Clayton 6-3 Laszlo KadarKeane Barry 6-2 Madars RazmaDirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Luke HumphriesMichael van Gerwen 6-4 James HurrellGian van Veen 6-0 Nandor MajorNathan Aspinall 6-4 Ryan JoyceJosh Rock 6-0 Joe Cullen Friday August 28Round OneAfternoon SessionJonas Masalin 6-4 Kevin DoetsAndrew Gilding 6-0 Milan BiroRitchie Edhouse 6-1 Connor ScuttNiko Springer 6-1 Maik KuivenhovenWilliam O'Connor 6-2 Samuel PriceKeane Barry 6-2 Martin SchindlerRyan Joyce 6-3 Cristo ReyesDave Chisnall 6-3 Andras Borbely Evening SessionDirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 David PisekLaszlo Kadar 6-5 Daryl GurneyKrzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Callan RydzJoe Cullen 6-3 Adam LeekRob Cross 6-5 Beau GreavesNandor Major 6-5 Niels ZonneveldTom Sykes 6-1 Cameron MenziesJames Hurrell 6-5 Damon Heta Who will win this year's BoyleSports World Grand Prix?
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