James Wade struggles through after home qualifier throws lowest winning average ever on Euro Tour in marathon encounter at Hungarian Darts Trophy 2024

James Wade has qualified for the second round at the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy this Friday afternoon in Budapest. 'The Machine' did not have an easy time against German, Lukas Wenig, but still won 6-4 in the end.

The left-handed darter recovered handsomely from a 2-0 deficit after Wenig won the first two legs with a 14-darter and a 65 finish. Wade then came back to 2-2 via double 10 and a 13-darter. Wade then took the lead for the first time in the match by producing a 12-darter in leg five. The Englishman then broke his German opponent to double the lead. However, Wenig broke back immediately and then threw a 38 finish to sign for a 4-4 tie. The lead went back to Wade, who hit 89 in the ninth. Wenig then started the tenth leg, but failed to hit a double. Wade took the in with a 16-darter.

For the second time in the history of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, a Hungarian player has advanced to the second round. That was a formality beforehand, as Host Nation Qualifiers Alberti Bezijan and Andras Csoka were paired together in the draw. In a very poor quality match, the victory went 6-4 to Bezijan.

It also earned him a record, although no doubt he will not be very proud of that. Bezijan threw an average of 67.66 and that was the lowest winning average in European Tour history. He broke the record of Belgian Kenny Neyens, who won a match at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy in 2021 with an average of 71.21 per turn.

Cor Dekker is also back in the second round of the Euro Tour tournament in Budapest. Dekker, originally a Dutchman but currently active on behalf of Norway, triumphed 6-4 against Janos Vegso. Martin Lukeman defeated Brendan Dolan 6-4 to join the last 32.