DRAW Hungarian Darts Trophy 2025 | Van Gerwen defends Euro Tour title with Humphries, Littler, Price & more in star-studded lineup

Michael van Gerwen will begin the defence of his Hungarian Darts Trophy title in Budapest this weekend, as the three-time World Champion looks to build on his return to form and add yet another European Tour crown to his glittering CV.

The Dutchman ended a two-year wait for a televised PDC title at last weekend’s World Series of Darts Finals on home soil, and he now heads to the MVM Dome chasing a record-extending 39th European Tour triumph. He’ll open against Andrew Gilding or Matthew Dennant, with a potential collision course against 2023 champion Dave Chisnall later in the draw.

It’s a line-up stacked with star power. World number one Luke Humphries is in the opposite half of the bracket, and could be on course for a mouthwatering clash with Nathan Aspinall, who already has two European Tour wins in 2025. Humphries begins against the winner of Aspinall’s tie with Hungarian qualifier Levente Sarai.

World Champion Luke Littler, eyeing a second European Tour title of the season, will open against 2022 Budapest winner Joe Cullen or Germany’s Lukas Wenig. Littler and Van Gerwen are seeded to meet in the semi-finals, a prospect that would light up Finals Day on Sunday.

Elsewhere, former winners Gerwyn Price and Chisnall are lurking with intent. Price, the 2021 champion, faces either Richard Veenstra or Cam Crabtree, while Chisnall awaits Raymond van Barneveld or local hope Nandor Major. Cullen, another past champion in Budapest, has the unenviable task of trying to halt Littler’s charge should he come through round one.

Josh Rock continues his surge on the European Tour after reaching finals in Antwerp and Prague. The Northern Irishman has been handed a tricky opener against Ricardo Pietreczko or Jim Williams as he chases a breakthrough title.

James Wade will take on either Luke Woodhouse or Hungarian qualifier Andras Borbely, while Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta and Rob Cross are also among the seeds to watch. Cross, a two-time European Champion, is in urgent need of ranking points with his place at the European Championship still far from secure.

Friday’s first round serves up 16 ties, including a tasty clash between 2024 finalist Gian van Veen and Germany’s Niko Springer — two of the sport’s brightest young stars. The winner earns a shot at Heta in round two.

With Van Gerwen resurging, Littler and Humphries leading the new era, and proven winners like Price, Chisnall and Cullen all in the mix, the Hungarian Darts Trophy promises another weekend of heavyweight collisions on the European Tour.