Ross Smith clinched the
Hungarian Darts Trophy last weekend. The Englishman overpowered
Gary Anderson 8-2 in the final to celebrate his second European Tour title of the season.
The title went to Smith, but the player who posted the highest average of the entire
tournament was Anderson. The Scot produced an impressive 105.27 average in the last 16, but that ultimately wasn’t enough to take the title.
Anderson was the clear standout on averages. In his last-16 match he showed why he remains one of the most dangerous players on the European Tour. With 105.27 points per three darts, he was the only player to top 105 during the Hungarian Darts Trophy. He also hit a high level later in the event. In the quarter-finals against Gian van Veen he averaged 101.45.
Those strong performances carried Anderson all the way to the final, where he faced Smith. There, the Scot couldn’t reproduce his top gear. Anderson had to settle for an average clearly below his earlier peaks, while Smith stayed in three figures at 101.01. The Englishman edged the key moments and ultimately pulled away for a convincing 8-2 win.
Greaves takes an excellent second place
Behind Anderson,
Beau Greaves ranks second on the tournament averages list. The English star averaged a superb 104.88 in the opening round against Rob Cross. That left her just a few tenths shy of Anderson’s tournament best. Greaves, however, couldn’t convert that strong stat into a deep run.
Cross and Tom Sykes also posted ton-plus averages in the last 48. Cross came in at 101.90, while Sykes produced an equally impressive 101.20. It underlines how high the level was in the early rounds of the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
Ross Smith features twice himself near the top of the chart. He averaged 101.33 in the last 32 and hit three figures again in the final with 101.01. That made Smith the only player besides Anderson to record a 100-plus average in two different matches.
Ross Smith sealed overall victory at the Hungarian Darts Trophy
Nathan Aspinall completes the top ten with a 100.95 average in the quarter-finals. Keane Barry and Damon Heta also cleared the 100 barrier in the last 48, with 100.77 and 100.67 respectively.
The numbers tell an intriguing story of the Hungarian Darts Trophy. Statistically, Anderson was the weekend’s best performer with 105.27, but it was Smith who won the most important match. The Englishman proved again that a high average alone doesn’t guarantee success. In the pressure moments, doubles and taking the right legs make the difference.
That blend ultimately delivered the top prize for Smith. With his second European Tour title of the season he confirmed his excellent form, while Anderson, despite some eye-catching averages, had to settle for second place. In Hungary it wasn’t the player with the highest average who lifted the trophy, but the one who performed best when it mattered most.