Dirk van Duijvenbode dismisses Luke Humphries at the Hungarian Darts Trophy
Dirk van Duijvenbode dumped out top seed Luke Humphries on Day Two of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, as Gary Anderson delivered a blistering display in Budapest.
Van Duijvenbode ended his nine-match losing run against Humphries to book his place in the Last 16 at a sold-out MVM Dome.
The recent World Matchplay semi-finalist reeled off four consecutive legs from 3-2 down to cap off a classy display, averaging 98 and conjuring up a spectacular 140 checkout in the closing stages of the contest.
“Luke is a phenomenal player, but I think I’m okay as well,” joked Van Duijvenbode – a three-time runner-up on the European Tour.
“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.”
Van Duijvenbode will now face Rob Cross on Sunday afternoon, after the former World Champion landed a 130 checkout to deny Luke Woodhouse in a compelling last-leg shoot-out.
Woodhouse had fired in a brace of 136 checkouts earlier in the contest, but was denied in a high quality battle despite averaging 100.1.
Meanwhile, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen also advance to Round Three courtesy of victories over Nandor Major and James Hurrell respectively.
Van Veen pinned 67 per cent of his attempts at doubles and converted a sublime 167 checkout to whitewash Major, while Van Gerwen overturned a 3-1 deficit in sealing a comeback win against a resilient Hurrell.
Scottish icon Anderson marked his return to European Tour action in style, averaging 105.3 in his 6-2 rout of Krzysztof Ratajski – halting the Pole’s bid for back-to-back European Tour titles.
Ross Smith also registered a ton-plus average to dispatch William O’Connor by the same scoreline, and his reward is a tie with Jonny Clayton – who ran out a 6-3 winner against Hungary’s Laszlo Kadar.
Nathan Aspinall opened his title challenge with a battling 6-4 win against Ryan Joyce, landing five 180s to set up a blockbuster showdown against Van Gerwen in the Last 16.
Former champion Dave Chisnall boosted his hopes of World Grand Prix qualification with a 6-2 victory over an out of sorts Wessel Nijman in the Hungarian capital, aided by a 100.5 average.
However, reigning champion Niko Springer saw his title defence derailed by Ryan Searle – who recorded a 6-4 success in a quick-fire contest that lasted just 14 minutes.
Searle will take on last year’s runner-up Danny Noppert for a place in the quarter-finals, with the Dutchman defeating former European Champion Ritchie Edhouse 6-4 in his opening round tie.
Stephen Bunting will lock horns with Anderson in another intriguing tussle, after the Premier League star began his campaign with a comprehensive 6-1 win at the expense of Finland’s Jonas Masalin.
Chris Dobey completed a terrific comeback from 4-0 down to deny Tom Sykes in a last-leg decider, and his next assignment will be a tussle against sixth seed Josh Rock – who ruthlessly whitewashed a struggling Joe Cullen.
Jermaine Wattimena overcame Andrew Gilding in a hard-fought encounter to earn a showdown against Van Veen, while a resurgent Keane Barry swept aside Madars Razma 6-2 to progress to the Last 16 of a European Tour event for the first time in three years.
Hungarian Darts Trophy 2026 Day Two Results
Saturday August 29
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Ross Smith 6-2 William O’Connor
Wessel Nijman 2-6 Dave Chisnall
Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse
Ryan Searle 6-4 Niko Springer
Luke Woodhouse 5-6 Rob Cross
Gary Anderson 6-2 Krzysztof Ratajski
Chris Dobey 6-5 Tom Sykes
Evening Session
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Jonas Masalin
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Laszlo Kadar
Madars Razma 2-6 Keane Barry
Luke Humphries 3-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 James Hurrell
Gian van Veen 6-0 Nandor Major
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ryan Joyce
Josh Rock 6-0 Joe Cullen
