Smith routs Anderson to clinch Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-ross/l8mIsYNm/"]Smith[/a] dominated the showpiece at the MVM Dome in front of a record crowd of almost 6,000 people. [/p][p]The Englishman took a 2-1 lead with 103 and 124 checkouts before winning five successive legs to move within two of the title.[/p][p]He finished the match with an 11-dart break of throw, averaging 101 and converting 73% of his attempts at double.[/p][embed guid="e310c500-a040-4b0a-960e-317acd0bcd12" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2094169988789600647?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]“I feel a bit in disbelief in a way because I was coming here on the back of two losses in the World Series,”[/b] said Smith, who moved up to world number 15 after collecting the £35,000 top prize.[/p][p][b]“It’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-gary/MyKZZS6r/"]Gary Anderson[/a], isn’t it? He’s a legend. To be able to beat Gary, wow." [/b][/p][p]Smith also moved to the top of the 2026 European Tour rankings, ahead of fellow two-time champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nijman-wessel/xCX137Ee/"]Wessel Nijman[/a].[/p][p][b]“At the end of the day, I’m playing in front of thousands and thousands of people,”[/b] Smith added.[/p][p][b]“This is my job, wow! I’m so grateful, it’s a pinch-myself moment. [/b][b]I absolutely love the European Tour. To travel the world and see everything, and take my little lad with me, it’s an absolute privilege.”[/b][/p][embed guid="cf694b5a-3709-47b5-8497-1fb4f18c222b" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2094172526125424836?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Anderson ended the weekend as runner-up, but strengthened his European Championship hopes after recording his first four European Tour wins of the year. [/p][p]The Scot began with a 6-2 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ratajski-krzysztof/jNZjSeIT/"]Krzysztof Ratajski[/a], averaging 105.27, before edging [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bunting-stephen/xANKMtPG/"]Stephen Bunting[/a] in a deciding leg.[/p][p]Anderson then beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-veen-gian/jgT1AT29/"]Gian van Veen[/a] in another last-leg shootout before surviving five match darts against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aspinall-nathan/KURJJrU5/"]Nathan Aspinall[/a] to reach the final. [/p][image alt="Anderson in Budapest" id="492a12fb-68a3-4773-81ea-66efbee3b91b" credit-line="Gabor Kiss / PDC Europe" guid="db5ce989-9ba2-4c66-83fd-b92066727e58" original-width="1250" original-height="833" /][p][b]“I ran out of steam a long time ago!” [/b]Anderson joked afterwards. [/p][p][b]“Making the final was sheer luck. It was a gift from the gods I got this far.[/b][/p][p][b]“Ross has been brilliant throughout the day. We watched him during the second game, he was fantastic.[/b][/p][p][b]“We’ve got a few tournaments left to get into the Finals, so I’m going to give it my damnedest.”[/b][/p][p]The European Tour returns next weekend with the Czech Darts Open in Prague from 4th to 6th September.[/p][h2]Results[/h2][p][b]Afternoon session[/b][/p][p][i][b]Round three[/b][/i][/p][p]Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 Rob Cross[/p][p]Danny Noppert 6-4 Ryan Searle[/p][p]Ross Smith 6-4 Jonny Clayton[/p][p]Dave Chisnall 6-2 Keane Barry[/p][p]Gian van Veen 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena[/p][p]Gary Anderson 6-5 Stephen Bunting[/p][p]Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Michael van Gerwen[/p][p]Chris Dobey 6-3 Josh Rock[/p][p][b]Evening session[/b][/p][p][i][b]Quarter-finals[/b][/i][/p][p]Danny Noppert 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode[/p][p]Ross Smith 6-2 Dave Chisnall[/p][p]Gary Anderson 6-5 Gian van Veen[/p][p]Nathan Aspinall 6-5 Chris Dobey[/p][p][i][b]Semi-finals[/b][/i][/p][p]Ross Smith 7-3 Danny Noppert[/p][p]Gary Anderson 7-6 Nathan Aspinall[/p][p][i][b]Final[/b][/i][/p][p]Ross Smith 8-2 Gary Anderson[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/europe/european-tour-11/"]Catch up on ET11 with Flashscore[/a][/h2]