The electric atmosphere inside Budapest’s MVM Dome crackled with anticipation on Sunday evening, as the Hungarian Darts Trophy reached its feverish quarter-final stage. Fans from across Europe had packed the arena, their chants echoing off the walls like thunderclaps, ready for a showdown that promised to etch itself into darts folklore. But in a twist that left jaws on the floor, Welsh powerhouse Gerwyn Price, the unflappable “Iceman,” was forced to withdraw from the fray just minutes before his blockbuster clash with teenage sensation Luke Littler. The news, delivered like a gut punch to the roaring crowd, rippled through the venue, turning what should have been a clash of titans into an unexpected reprieve for the young Englishman.
It was Dan Dawson, the tournament’s unflinching announcer, who had to bear the bad news to the rabid crowd inside the MVM Dome in Budapest. “He withdrew only minutes ago,” Dawson revealed, his voice cutting through the stunned silence that followed the initial murmur of confusion. The PDC quickly confirmed the heartbreaking reason: medical grounds. Details remained scarce, but whispers among the paddock pointed to ongoing battles with a nagging hand issue that has dogged Price in recent weeks. Just last month, the 40-year-old had endured a hospital stint that sidelined him from key ProTour events and another European Tour outing, testing his legendary resilience. Whether this latest setback was a flare-up of that old foe or something entirely new, Price’s absence cast a shadow over the weekend, robbing fans of a matchup that had all the makings of pure fireworks.
Price, seeded seventh for the event, had arrived in Hungary with ice in his veins and fire in his throw. Earlier in the day, during the afternoon session, he dismantled darts icon Raymond van Barneveld in ruthless fashion, storming to a 6-2 victory with a blistering 102.50 average. The Dutch legend, a three-time world champion, could only muster 89.05 as Price’s arrows found the treble bed with surgical precision, his icy stare unbroken even as the Budapest faithful urged on the underdog. It was a statement win, a reminder of why Price remains one of the PDC’s most feared competitors—a former world number one who clinched the 2021 World Championship in a nerve-shredding final and has since added multiple European Tour titles to his trophy cabinet. His cool demeanor under pressure earned him the “Iceman” moniker, a nod to his ability to freeze out opponents when the stakes skyrocket. Yet, on this balmy September night, even the chill of Price’s aura couldn’t ward off the warmth of unforeseen adversity.
Stepping into the void—and straight into the semi-finals—was 18-year-old Luke Littler, the prodigy whose meteoric rise has redefined darts’ next generation. Seeded second, Littler had breezed through his second-round encounter against Germany’s Martin Schindler, securing a 6-2 win with a composed 99.20 average. Schindler, no slouch at 89.49, was left chasing shadows as Littler’s pinpoint accuracy lit up the board. The Warrington wonder boy, who burst onto the scene last year by reaching the World Championship final at just 16, has since claimed a Premier League title and racked up European Tour victories with the ease of a seasoned pro. This bye feels like destiny’s wink, sparing Littler the energy-sapping duel against Price’s relentless power game. “It’s not the way I wanted to get there,” Littler might reflect in the quiet moments, but with his trademark grin, he’d likely add that every arrow counts in the grand scheme.
The ripple effects of Price’s exit reshaped the tournament bracket in an instant. As Dawson’s words hung in the air, the first quarter-final between Chris Dobey and Danny Noppert was already underway on the oche. The sixth-seeded Dobey, fresh off a gritty 6-5 marathon win over Cameron Menzies (98.42 to 94.17), traded blows with the 14th seed Noppert, who had just stunned world number three Michael van Gerwen in a 6-5 thriller (101.37 average sealing the upset). Noppert’s reward? A straight shot to the semi-finals against Littler, after he powered through Dobey 6-2 with a steady 97.24 to the Englishman’s 104.21 in a match that showcased Noppert’s tactical nous.
With one quarter-final scratched, the evening streamlined into three high-octane battles. James Wade, the fifth seed and a four-time world champion known for his metronomic scoring, faced Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock in the next slot. Wade had dismantled Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts 6-2 earlier (100.53 average), while Rock, the 13th seed, had edged out France’s Thibault Tricole 6-3 (97.96). Their winner would then lock horns with the victor of the final quarter: German qualifier Niko Springer versus world number one Luke Humphries. Springer, an unheralded force, had toppled eighth seed Rob Cross 6-3, but faced a Herculean task against Humphries, who demolished Mike De Decker 6-1 with a jaw-dropping 113.05 average—the highest of the tournament so far. Humphries, the reigning world champion and a scoring machine, entered as the top seed, his composure as unyielding as Price’s once was.
The Hungarian Darts Trophy, the PDC’s 12th European Tour event of 2025, has been a cauldron of drama from the off. Hosted in the vibrant heart of Budapest for the third consecutive year, it draws a cosmopolitan crowd to the state-of-the-art MVM Dome, where the air hums with multilingual cheers and the scent of street food wafts from nearby stalls. Prize money tempts with £175,000 on the line—the winner pocketing £30,000—while ranking points fuel the race toward December’s World Championship. Price’s earlier exploits had him dreaming of adding another Euro Tour gem to his collection; he’d triumphed here before, channeling that Budapest magic into glory. Littler, meanwhile, eyes his second title of the season, a stepping stone in his quest to dethrone Humphries at the top.
As the semi-final draw crystallizes—Noppert or Dobey versus Littler, and Wade/Rock against Springer/Humphries—the tournament pivots toward an unpredictable climax. Price’s withdrawal is a poignant reminder of the sport’s brutal physical toll, where a flick of the wrist can launch dreams or shatter them. Yet, in darts’ unforgiving world, opportunity knocks loudest for those ready to answer. Littler, with his bye in hand, steps forward into the spotlight, the weight of expectation light as a feather. The MVM Dome, still buzzing from the shock, braces for more magic. Who will lift the trophy under these lights? One thing’s certain: the oche never sleeps, and neither does the drama.
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