Hungarian Darts Trophy Round-Up | The first time was so nice Ross Smith had to do it twice, seals 2026 European Tour double with Gary Anderson thrashing

The final session took place and a champion was crowned tonight at the Hungarian Darts Trophy with Gary Anderson facing Ross Smith in the final in Budapest. In front of a record European Tour crowd of over 6,000, they wanted the legend to win but fairytales often don't work like that as Ross Smith shone winning 8-2 in the final.

Smith despite being a European Champion in 2022 has had to wait until this year to become a European Tour winner and he has done it twice. He won in Riesa and now Budapest after a stint down under on the World Series recently, a player with serious talent and threat to the darting elite.

While Anderson unfortunately loses out on a weekend where he rode his luck at times, but delighted the crowd in an event he said he only attended due to the fact he heard Budapest was nice. It was nice enough that he reached the final, but in the end it was Smith who won.

Smith opened up the final with a 103 checkout to hold throw. Anderson hit a 180 to open his throw after a pretty serene opening on 'Smudger's throw from the Scot. Double 16 was pinned by Anderson for 1-1.

Smith produced an exceptional 124 on the bull for 2-1 as he continued a pretty excellent start. Anderson missed double eight for a 136 checkout that would've left the crowd purring. But he missed further darts and Smith broke the Anderson throw on double 20 for 3-1. He was suddenly throwing for 4-1.

Anderson missed double 20 for a 70 checkout and Smith held for 4-1 on double 20 clinically. Smith and Anderson were both looking at 86. Smith missed his first double on double 16 for 5-1. The crowd rose as Anderson looked at 86, but he missed the bull and Smith returned for double eight for 5-1.

Smith was throwing for 6-1 as Anderson thought initially he was throwing for it, but he had been broken. A 93 checkout saw Smith go 6-1 up as he continued to clean up.

Anderson missed 64 with two darts left. Smith looked at 134, but couldn't get a shot at it. Anderson stopped the rot on double two for 6-2. Albeit just a hold. Smith missed double 12 for a 74 checkout for 7-2. But he returned with 161 not getable for Anderson and Smith went one away on double 12 at 7-2. Smith concluded it with a 46 checkout to seal an 8-2 win.

To start the evening, it was the Double Dutch clash as Dirk van Duijvenbode faced off against Danny Noppert and it was Noppert who survived a scare to open proceedings up. He squandered a 4-0 lead and trailed 5-4 to Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Van Duijvenbode was forced to chase early as Noppert made the better start taking the first two legs and the next two legs also went to Noppert as he went 4-0 up. Albeit Van Duijvenbode could smell blood and with two legs in a row, he reduced the arrears to 4-2. After four straight for Noppert, it was now Van Duijvenbode who wins four legs in a row to make it 4-4.

At 5-5, we got a deciding leg for the victory, Noppert got to throw first. But Noppert kept his nerves under control to win it through 6-5 and claim the win.

Ross Smith started his road to the final from there facing off against Dave Chisnall. Smith powered through. He went 3-0 up quite early and although Chisnall reduced the deficit to 3-2, Smith won two legs in a row again. With a 5-2 lead, he was closing in and he hit double 16 to set up a semi-final with Noppert.

It was Gary Anderson's turn on the other side of the draw as he faced off against Gian van Veen. Van Veen went down 2-0 early, but he roared back to seal a 3-2 lead. With two legs in a row, Anderson moved into a 4-3 lead. This saw him break and he held on double 16.

Van Veen though cut the gap to 5-4 hitting 43 with Anderson missing 121 on the bull. But despite breaking again. Anderson did so in a tense decider with an 80 checkout to seal the win 6-5.

Then it was the turn of Nathan Aspinall facing off against Chris Dobey. In the last Quarter-Final, it was finely poised as at the halfway point, the score was perfectly level at 3-3. Dobey broke Aspinall for 4-3 with a 130 checkout, but back came Aspinall for 4-4 with an 81 checkout. Albeit it was going to be the player who managed to hold their nerve and hold literally that would get through. As Dobey broke for 5-4 with a 76 checkout albeit Aspinall hit double 10 before finally holding on double 18 for the victory to set up that clash with Anderson.

FIrst in the semi-finals, it was the turn of Ross Smith who reached the final facing off against Danny Noppert. After a fairly even start, Smith broke with an 81 checkout for 3-1 before holding for 4-1 with a 60 checkout.

Noppert cut the gap to 4-2 with a 54 checkout but back came Smith on double 16. With it being first to seven, he was close but not there yet as he went one away with a 64 checkout before then pinning double nine to break and seal it after Noppert missed darts to hold. An emphatic 7-3 win for Smith.

This compared to the showpiece tie which saw Anderson face Aspinall with 'The Asp' looking very likely to face his great friend in the final in Ross Smith. But never count the iconic Scot out.

Aspinall broke early via double 16 to lead 3-1. With two legs in a row including a bull finish, Anderson drew level again at 3-3. Aspinall found another gear and moved into a 6-4 lead. With his back against the wall, Anderson produced a brilliant 160 finish to reduce his deficit to 6-5. Aspinall missed three darts for the match. Anderson does not hesitate and, via double 8, we got a deciding leg. Aspinall's fourth and fifth match darts also miss their target. Anderson takes advantage with a 64 finish to snatch the win.