Hungarian Darts Trophy 2026 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

The 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy begins in Budapest on Friday as the qualifiers go head-to-head in Round One.

The 11th European Tour event of the year features 48 players competing for £230,000 in prize money at the MVM Dome from August 28-30.

The tournament sees the top 16 players from the main Order of Merit seeded in the draw and enter at the Second Round stage, while the 16 highest-ranked players from the one-year ProTour Order of Merit enter in Round One.

They are joined by a further ten Tour Card holder qualifiers, four Host Nation qualifiers, a Nordic & Baltic qualifier and an East European qualifier.

Friday’s afternoon session sees reigning champion Niko Springer launch the defence of his title with a tie against Maik Kuivenhoven.

Springer secured his first PDC ranking title here last September but has made just one quarter-final on the European Tour since and has struggled for consistency on both floor and stage.

Dave Chisnall, an eight-time European Tour event winner who captured this title in 2023, opens up with a tie against Host Nation qualifier Andras Borbely.

Three-time European Tour event winner Martin Schindler faces a tricky opener against former UK Open semi-finalist Keane Barry, while former European Champion Ritchie Edhouse takes on Connor Scutt.

Spanish star Cristo Reyes comes up against two-time European Tour finalist Ryan Joyce, while William O’Connor – also a two-time Euro Tour runner-up – meets debutant Samuel Price.

Kevin Doets, runner-up in this year’s Austrian Open and a winner on the ProTour, looks to inflict a second whitewash of the season on Finland’s Jonas Masalin, having averaged 117 in their last meeting in Gottingen back in March.

Former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding looks to put a disappointing midweek ProTour campaign behind him by overcoming debutant Hungarian qualifier Milán Biró.

The evening session includes a blockbuster tie between former World Champion Rob Cross and three-time Women’s World Champion Beau Greaves.

Greaves is making her long-awaited European Tour debut, having sensationally secured a Players Championship title this year as well as regaining the Women’s World Matchplay title.

Cross has enjoyed a fine return to form in recent months, picking up a Players Championship title in June whilst also finishing runner-up at the Slovak Darts Open.

Meanwhile, recent European Darts Open champion Krzysztof Ratajski takes on Callan Rydz – who replaces Gerwyn Price in this weekend’s event.

Joe Cullen, champion here in 2022, starts his latest campaign with a clash against Australia’s Adam Leek – who featured in the recent World Series double-header in New Zealand and Australia.

Damon Heta, who also makes a swift return to action after his trip Down Under, faces James Hurrell – who was forced to withdraw from his second round match at Players Championship 28 on Wednesday through injury.

Cameron Menzies, semi-finalist at the International Darts Open in May, faces rising star Tom Sykes, while three-time Euro Tour finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode takes on Czechia’s David Pisek for the right to face top seed Luke Humphries in Round Two.

Niels Zonneveld, twice a European Tour semi-finalist this season, faces home favourite Nandor Major, while former European Tour event winner Daryl Gurney takes on three-time Lakeside qualifier László Kádár.

The action gets under way from 12pm BST, with first round ties to be contested over the best of 11 legs.

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Hungarian Darts Trophy 2026 Day One Schedule of Play

All times BST (local time +1 hour)

Friday August 28

First Round

Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm)
Kevin Doets v Jonas Masalin
Andrew Gilding v Milan Biro
Ritchie Edhouse v Connor Scutt
Niko Springer v Maik Kuivenhoven
William O’Connor v Samuel Price
Martin Schindler v Keane Barry
Ryan Joyce v Cristo Reyes
Dave Chisnall v Andras Borbely

Evening Session (6pm-10pm)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v David Pisek
Daryl Gurney v Laszlo Kadar
Krzysztof Ratajski v Callan Rydz
Joe Cullen v Adam Leek
Rob Cross v Beau Greaves
Niels Zonneveld v Nandor Major
Cameron Menzies v Tom Sykes
Damon Heta v James Hurrell