Nathan Aspinall will tackle world No 1 Luke Humphries in spherical two of the Hungarian Darts Trophy whereas Luke Littler will play Joe Cullen.
Aspinall opened his bid for a 3rd European Tour title of the yr with a complete six-leg blitz of Hungarian World Cup star Levente Sarai, sealing the cope with a magical 164 checkout on the bull.
“I’m really happy with that performance,” admitted Aspinall, who completed with a mean of 101.33 to arrange a showdown with Humphries.
“Every time me and Luke play we have fantastic games, and he’s world No 1 for a reason. He’s a fantastic dart player, but so am I, and I believe I can do the job.”
The Stockport star was one in all 16 gamers to arrange round-two ties in opposition to the seeded representatives, following a dramatic opening day of motion on the MVM Dome.
Cullen and Littler will go face to face in one other blockbuster tussle, after 2022 champion Cullen survived three match darts in opposition to Lukas Wenig to start his bid for additional glory in Hungary.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” insisted Cullen, additionally 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 night, having claimed the scalp of 2023 UK Open winner Andrew Gilding within the opening recreation of the event.
Gilding was one in all a number of high-profile casualties on day one in Budapest, as Dutch quartet Gian van Veen, Wessel Nijman, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena all crashed out.
Van Veen averaged virtually 106 and landed six 180s in a compelling tie in opposition to Niko Springer, though the unflappable German pinned six of his eight makes an attempt at double to have a good time a medical 6-3 triumph.
Darren Beveridge and Tom Bissell overcame Nijman and Van Duijvenbode respectively to register maiden wins on the European Tour stage, earlier than Wattimena was crushed in a decider by French trailblazer Thibault Tricole.
Nevertheless, Raymond van Barneveld will renew his rivalry with 2023 champion Dave Chisnall after making a profitable begin within the Hungarian capital.
Michael van Gerwen will start his title defence in opposition to Matthew Dennant
The Dutch legend ran out a convincing 6-2 winner in opposition to Hungary’s former World Collection consultant Nandor Main, as he preserved his hopes of qualifying for subsequent month’s World Grand Prix and European Championship.
In the identical part of the draw, Richard Veenstra superior to a gathering with 2021 champion Gerwyn Worth, after averaging 97 to finish a 6-3 success in opposition to Improvement Tour chief Cam Crabtree.
Rob Owen produced a terrific show of his personal in Budapest, defying a ton-plus common from Ryan Searle to prevail in a last-leg decider and ebook a conflict with Dutch No 2 Danny Noppert on Saturday.
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Littler posted a ‘shock’ announcement on his social media channels claiming he takes a while away from darts. X credit score: @LukeTheNuke180
Luke Woodhouse will tackle fifth-seed James Wade after surviving a scare in opposition to dwelling favorite Andras Borbely, who produced a spectacular 170 checkout in his 6-4 defeat to the Bewdley-born star.
Ryan Joyce additionally excelled within the ending division, touchdown two ton-plus checkouts throughout his 6-2 win over European champion Ritchie Edhouse to arrange a showdown in opposition to Germany’s 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 an impressive 146 checkout.
World Cup champion Daryl Gurney produced a show-stopping 140 end to dispatch Leon Weber by the identical scoreline, and he’ll now go face to face with Rob Cross in one in all Saturday’s stand-out encounters.
Kim Huybrechts swept apart Danish debutant Andreas Hyllgaardhus, whereas Cameron Menzies returned to profitable methods courtesy of an emphatic 6-1 victory over Hungary’s Nandor Pres.
2025 Hungarian Darts Trophy schedule and outcomes
Friday September 19
Spherical One
Afternoon Session (1300 native time, 1200 BST)
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
Night Session
Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Thibault Tricole
Ryan Searle 6-5 Rob Owen
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Leon Weber
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Nandor Main
Richard Veenstra 6-3 Cam Crabtree
Joe Cullen 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Gian van Veen 3-6 Niko Springer
Nathan Aspinall 6-0 Levente Sarai
Saturday September 20
Spherical Two
Afternoon Session (1300 native time, 1200 BST)
Martin Schindler vs Ryan Joyce
Ross Smith vs Cameron Menzies
Danny Noppert vs Rob Owen
Chris Dobey vs Darren Beveridge
Rob Cross vs Daryl Gurney
James Wade vs Luke Woodhouse
Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts
Dave Chisnall vs Raymond van Barneveld
Night Session (1900 native time, 1800 BST)
Damon Heta vs Niko Springer
Gerwyn Worth vs Richard Veenstra
Michael van Gerwen vs Matthew Dennant
Luke Littler vs Joe Cullen
Luke Humphries vs Nathan Aspinall
Stephen Bunting vs Thibault Tricole
Josh Rock vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Mike De Decker vs Tom Bissell
Sunday September 21
Afternoon Session (1300 native time, 1200 BST)
Spherical Three
Night Session (1900 native time, 1800 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Ultimate
What’s subsequent on Sky Sports activities?
The 2025 BoyleSports World Grand Prix will happen on the Mattioli Enviornment, Leicester, from October 6-12, as 32 of the world’s high stars compete in one of many sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries are set to be joined by world champion Luke Littler in headlining this yr’s area.
Mike De Decker sensationally stormed to his first Premier Occasion title ultimately yr’s occasion.
Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW
