Nathan Aspinall (Photo by Gábor Kiss/PDC Europe)
Nathan Aspinall will take on world number one Luke Humphries in round two of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, as Niko Springer dumped out last year’s runner-up Gian van Veen on Day One in Budapest.
Aspinall opened his bid for a third European Tour title of the year with a comprehensive six-leg blitz of Hungarian World Cup star Levente Sarai, sealing the deal with a magical 164 checkout on the bull.
“I’m really happy with that performance,” admitted Aspinall, who finished with an average of 101.33 to set up a showdown with Humphries.
“Every time me and Luke play we have fantastic games, and he’s world number one for a reason. He’s a fantastic dart player, but so am I, and I believe I can do the job tomorrow.”
The Stockport star was one of 16 players to set up round two ties against the seeded representatives, following a dramatic opening day of action at the MVM Dome on Friday.
Joe Cullen and Luke Littler will go head-to-head in another blockbuster tussle, after 2022 champion Cullen survived three match darts against Lukas Wenig to begin his bid for further glory in Hungary.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” insisted Cullen, also a winner on the PDC ProTour earlier this month.
“Luke is obviously an unbelievable player, but I’ve beaten him this year and on my day I can beat anybody, so bring it on!”
Matthew Dennant will play reigning champion Michael van Gerwen on Saturday evening, having claimed the scalp of 2023 UK Open winner Andrew Gilding in the opening game of the tournament.
Gilding was one of several high-profile casualties on Day One in Budapest, as Dutch quartet Van Veen, Wessel Nijman, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena all crashed out.
Van Veen averaged almost 106 and landed six 180s in a compelling tie against Springer, although the unflappable German pinned six of his eight attempts at double to celebrate a clinical 6-3 triumph.
Elsewhere, Darren Beveridge and Tom Bissell overcame Nijman and Van Duijvenbode respectively to register maiden wins on the European Tour stage, before Wattimena was beaten in a decider by French trailblazer Thibault Tricole.
However, Raymond van Barneveld will renew his rivalry with 2023 champion Dave Chisnall after making a winning start in the Hungarian capital.
The Dutch legend ran out a convincing 6-2 winner against Hungary’s former World Series representative Nandor Major, as he preserved his hopes of qualifying for next month’s World Grand Prix and European Championship.
In the same section of the draw, Richard Veenstra advanced to a meeting with 2021 champion Gerwyn Price, after averaging 97 to complete a 6-3 success against Development Tour leader Cam Crabtree.
Rob Owen produced a terrific display of his own in Budapest, defying a ton-plus average from Ryan Searle to prevail in a last-leg decider and book a clash with Dutch number two Danny Noppert on Saturday.
Luke Woodhouse will take on fifth seed James Wade after surviving a scare against home favourite Andras Borbely, who produced a spectacular 170 checkout in his 6-4 defeat to the Bewdley-born star.
Ryan Joyce also excelled in the finishing department, landing a brace of ton-plus checkouts during his 6-2 win over European Champion Ritchie Edhouse to set up a showdown against Martin Schindler.
Schindler’s compatriot Ricardo Pietreczko will lock horns with an in-form Josh Rock following his crushing 6-1 victory over Jim Williams, which culminated with a majestic 146 checkout.
World Cup champion Daryl Gurney produced a show-stopping 140 finish to dispatch Leon Weber by the same scoreline, and he will now go head-to-head with Rob Cross in one of Saturday’s stand-out encounters.
Elsewhere, Kim Huybrechts swept aside Danish debutant Andreas Hyllgaardhus, while Cameron Menzies returned to winning ways courtesy of an emphatic 6-1 victory over Hungary’s Nandor Pres.
Round Two will take place across a bumper double session on Saturday, headlined by a fascinating clash between Humphries and Aspinall.
Littler will open his challenge for a third European Tour title of 2025 against Cullen in another eye-catching affair, as Van Gerwen kicks off his title defence against Dennant.
RESULTS
Round One: Matthew Dennant 6-4 Andrew Gilding; Cameron Menzies 6-1 Nandor Pres; Ryan Joyce 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse; Ricardo Pietreczko 6-1 Jim Williams; Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Andreas Hyllgaardhus; Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Andras Borbely; Darren Beveridge 6-2 Wessel Nijman; Tom Bissell 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode; Thibault Tricole 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena; Rob Owen 6-5 Ryan Searle; Daryl Gurney 6-1 Leon Weber; Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Nandor Major; Richard Veenstra 6-3 Cam Crabtree; Joe Cullen 6-5 Lukas Wenig; Niko Springer 6-3 Gian van Veen; Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Levente Sarai
