The Hungarian Darts Trophy 2025, set to ignite Budapest’s MVM Dome from September 19 to 21, promises a weekend of electrifying darts action as the PDC European Tour’s twelfth stop of the season unfolds. This high-stakes tournament, featuring 48 of the world’s top dart players and a £175,000 prize pool with £30,000 for the winner, is a critical juncture in the race toward October’s European Darts Championship. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen, fresh off a thrilling 8-7 victory over Gian van Veen in the 2024 final, returns to reclaim his crown, but a stacked field led by Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price ensures a fierce battle. With the possibility of late withdrawals adding intrigue, the stage is set for a spectacle that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.
The tournament kicks off on Friday, September 19, with the first round split into afternoon and evening sessions starting at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. UK time, respectively. Sixteen matches will see ProTour qualifiers face off against Tour Card holders, Host Nation qualifiers, and East European and Nordic & Baltic representatives. Saturday’s second round introduces the top 16 seeds, including Van Gerwen, Humphries, and Littler, who are drawn based on the two-year PDC Order of Merit. The third round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final unfold on Sunday, with matches escalating from best-of-11 legs to a best-of-15 leg final. Last year’s event made history with three nine-darters from Van Gerwen, Cor Dekker, and Martin Schindler, raising expectations for more magical moments in Budapest.
Van Gerwen, the Dutch superstar, enters as a fan favorite after his recent World Series of Darts Finals triumph over Littler. “To beat guys like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Josh Rock in one day, it’s not the worst performance,” he said, reflecting on that victory. However, Littler, the 18-year-old world champion, is the bookmakers’ pick, riding a wave of dominance with four titles in his last five tournaments, including the 2025 World Matchplay and UK Open. “Luke Littler looks unstoppable,” one analyst noted, citing his performance at the Flanders Darts Trophy, where he outlasted Josh Rock in a thrilling final. Humphries, the world No. 1, aims to reclaim his 2023 Czech Darts Open form, though recent inconsistencies make his path uncertain. Gerwyn Price, back from a hand injury, and Josh Rock, a rising star who reached the Flanders final, are also tipped to make deep runs.
The field is a blend of veterans and emerging talents. Stephen Bunting, Gary Anderson, and Rob Cross bring experience, while qualifiers like Ricardo Pietreczko and Wessel Nijman add unpredictability. Local hopes rest on Host Nation qualifiers like Alberto Bezjian, who upset Andras Csoka in 2024. “Josh Rock seems ready to claim his first European Tour title,” predicted one pundit, while another highlighted Martin Schindler’s knack for late surges: “It’s either early exit or late run, so I’m going for the latter.” The draw, set to be finalized on Thursday, September 18, at 1 p.m. CET, will pit qualifiers against seeds, promising early fireworks.
Broadcast globally via PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where DAZN and Viaplay take over), the event is accessible to fans in the UK, USA, and Australia, with sessions also streamed through bookmakers’ platforms. The MVM Dome, hosting its fifth Hungarian Darts Trophy, will buzz with an electric atmosphere, as fans anticipate whether Van Gerwen can defend his title or if Littler’s youthful brilliance will steal the show. “A very strong field of participants,” one observer noted, underscoring the tournament’s unpredictability. As darts’ elite converge, Budapest braces for a weekend where precision, pressure, and passion collide.
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