03/09/2021

2021 Hungarian Darts Trophy preview and schedule: Friday evening session including Van der Voort versus Gurney

After the starter of the first session of Hungarian Darts Trophy action comes the main course with multiple European Tour winners involved on Friday evening in the final action before the seeded names come in on Saturday afternoon.

Starting proceedings off is who will face Peter Wright in his return to European Tour action which is usually a happy hunting ground. Florian Hempel, the rising German player will face Jake Jones.

Ross Smith has been seen winning open tournaments as preparation for the return of the European Tour and will look to take that form into his tie against Peter Strbik. He will have Rob Cross waiting for him who was in that same MAD-affiliated event he played in if he comes through.

Prize money breakdown for 2021 Hungarian Darts Trophy with £140,000 on offer

The most intriguing of the Host Nation Qualifiers follows on as Jozsef Rucska is set for his European Tour debut. Intriguing as he has gained fan fare for wearing sunglasses on his head when he plays.

Telling the Weekly Dartscast this past week that he doesn't think they are allowed due to PDC rules but that he will try to wear them on the walk-on as a nod.

It is also a meeting he has had before back in 2013 in the BDO/WDF system against Scottish ace Alan Soutar so it is a tie with multiple facets none more so than his sunglasses.

Following that are multiple potentially quality ties as Luke Humphries aims to continue his brilliant 2021 against Madars Razma who always comes good around this time of year.

He has a busy month with Nordic Darts Masters and World Cup of Darts (if he is picked as current first reserve) so will aim to start that off with a win over 'Cool Hand Luke'.

It is a two time World Champion against the current World Youth Champion following that as Adrian Lewis aims to get his season on track as he faces Bradley Brooks in a tie which could catch light.

As could Steve Beaton facing John Michael. A usual face not only in darts but mostly on the European Tour with a mostly immaculate qualification record, he similar to Lewis has some ground to make up with his darting future in the higher echelons of the game potentially in doubt, could the greatest player from Greece dump out 'The Bronzed Adonis'?

Simon Whitlock had the disappointment of not playing at the World Matchplay recently but like Smith and Cross has stuck to what he knows best to get form back and that is local opens.

As they say the proof is in the pudding and he is set to face 'The Demolition Man' first with a tie against his World Cup partner, Damon Heta potentially waiting. They may be partners in Jena later this month but it will be all business if he can see off Webster.

Before Vincent van der Voort and Daryl Gurney - two former European Tour winners face off in a match that could have graced the later rounds previously - they will meet to end the first day of action with a tie against Michael van Gerwen awaiting.

A familiar rival for Gurney and a best friend for the Dutch Destroyer, who sets up a tricky tie for the Green Machine who is still without a title this year.

Action begins at 18:00 and it is all viewable all weekend on PDCTV with details below on how you can tune in wherever you are.