Swiss Darts Trophy Sunday Afternoon Round-up | Luke Humphries averages over 114 in staggering performance as van Veen and Clayton advance into final session

The Swiss Darts trophy is there for the taking for anyone who is able to capitalise. There have been a number of upsets throughout these past two days, and that continued to an extent as some more seeds departed. It has set up a highly anticipated final session in Basel where the title will be fought for.

This is Luke Humphries' first tournament since winning the World Grand Prix title. He is seeking for a second European Tour title in 2026 and is in the quarter-finals after a staggering display against Krzysztof Ratajski. He battered his Polish opponent 6-0 with an 114.5 average, a tournament record.

He began in ominous fashion, breaking the throw in 11 darts. He doubled his lead before a 109 outshot confirmed another break. ‘The Polish Eagle’ was just a bystander in this match, watching a masterclass by Humphries. He was averaging over 121 at this point. A 12-dart hold moved him within two of the match, with ‘Cool Hand Luke’ clinical on double 16. A third break of throw, this time on tops, gave Humphries the chance to throw it out, and he did not need a second invitation. He got a 180 in every leg but just missed out on the European Tour record average after missing double five for a 130. Fittingly, he finished in the madhouse and has outlined his title credentials with the highest ever average in the Swiss Darts Trophy.

Gian van Veen is still hunting for a first ever European Tour title. This weekend could be the one where he finally completes the elusive accolade. He prolonged his title challenge with a fine performance against Tom Bissell, averaging 100.97.

Both players got on the board with checkouts of 16 before van Veen commenced what would be five consecutive breaks. Twice the ‘Giant sneaked ahead, but twice Bissell got himself back on level terms. A 76 checkout turned out to be the highest of the match, and that got the Dutch number one ahead. He finally backed it up with a hold. Bissell forced him the throw it out, and he duly obliged to reach a fifth quarter-final in 2026.

A highly anticipated clash between Jonny Clayton and Rob Cross did not disappoint. Both players produced a very high level of darts in an epic. Despite averaging 106.88, ‘Voltage’ would still come out on the losing side against the Welsh number two 6-4.

Cross was one of the standout players in these opening two games. He sailed out into a 2-0 lead with an early break before Clayton got on the board. ‘The Ferret’ upped the gears and a clinical 80 checkout in two darts followed a failed 112 attempt by the former world champion and got the match back on throw. He backed it up with a 76 checkout, but a 92 finish kept Cross in contention. It would not be for much longer. Clayton ended with a bang, taking out 106 on double 16 to etch his name in the quarter-finals. Averaging over a ton, he desperately needs to win this title to boost his Grand Slam of Darts hopes.

Michael Smith was showing signs of his old self yesterday as he looks to continue his campaign in Switzerland. A much-improved campaign by the 2023 world champion has come to an end against Dirk van Duijvenbode. The Dutchman came out victorious 6-3.

Both players have or are having troubles with injury, hampering their darts career. A 126 checkout from ‘Bully Boy’ got himself ahead 2-1 before a 107 outshot by van Duijvenbode got him back level pegging. A leg later, he seized the initiative against the darts. He grafted hard for these legs as Smith pestered him. A 79 checkout on double 11 moved him within one, and he managed to see out the contest with a 96 finish with two double 19’s, ending with a flourish.

Ross Smith left the Basel stage seething. Mensur Suljovic produced a contentious display full of questionable sportsmanship as he bathed in the crowd support, keeping his cool to win 6-5. It is a first European Tour quarter-final for ‘The Gentle’ since 2023 on home soil. It was a lethargic game, paced at Suljovic’s tempo. Smith seemed fine with that as he took a 2-0 lead, but missed doubles allowed the Austrian to fight back, levelling with an 11-dart hold. Four consecutive breaks saw Smith blow his lead multiple times. It went to a deciding leg as ‘Smudger’ crumbled at the end. He missed two match darts as Suljovic was seen celebrating and hyping up the crowd. He pinned double 10, and a frosty handshake was completed between the two in a game full of needle and drama.

Karel Sedlacek was not even originally qualified for this tournament. Coming off the reserve list, Czech Republic’s first ever PDC ranking title winner is in the quarter-finals after a comprehensive 6-2 win against an underwhelming Rock. While the former World Cup of Darts winner averaged in the low 80s, ‘Evil Charlie’ took command. Sedlacek went a break ahead before a classy 127 by Rock got him level. He would not win another leg in the match with the clinical Czech romping away to glory. In the race to Dortmund, he is just a single win away from levelling with Stephen Bunting in 32nd.

Bradley Brooks is competing in his first ever European Tour Sunday and made the most of it. Jeffrey de Graaf let a huge opportunity slide, putting in a poor showing to lose 6-3. ‘Bam Bam’ kept in touch with his Swedish opponent before putting on the afterburners at the end. From 3-2 down, he won every leg. An 84 checkout got him ahead for the first time in the match before comfortably seeing it out to break more ground in Basel.

Cristo Reyes stood out as one of the best performers in the last-16. He ended Damon Heta’s title charge with a 6-4 win. The solitary break came in the first leg of the match. A 68 checkout proved to be pivotal. A 71 finish got Heta on the board, but there was work to do. AN 86 checkout put him 5-3 ahead, but a little blip at the end gave the Aussie a slight bit of hope. However, ‘The Spartan’ got himself in command and finished it on double 10. He averaged 100.89 in a terrific performance.