2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Preview – JP
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Preview
James Punt landed two winners from two bets yesterday evening. His 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 preview and tips are below.
Ross Smith vs. William O’Connor
It was a very good performance from O’Connor in yesterday’s first round. He averaged 97.10 in a 6-2 win over Sam Price and hit four 180s. The question now is, can he back it up? History suggests not. O’Connor has played seven second round matches on the Euro Tour in 2026 and lost five.
Ross Smith had a miserable time down under. Flying halfway around the world, just to lose two darts matches. And then fly home again…but I guess he got to hug a Koala bear.
He lost both his World Masters matches 5-6 and that might be a hint of what to expect in this match. Smith has an 11-4 H2H record vs O’Connor and in their fourteen best of eleven leg matches, nine were over 9.5 legs.
I can see a close match, but at some stage O’Connor will start shaking his head as he mentally gives in.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.04 with Livescorebet
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: 0.5 point Ross Smith to win 6-4 @ 6.00 generally available
Wessel Nijman vs. Chisnall
Chisnall made hard work of beating András Borbély 6-3, averaging 89.11. Dragged down, or just another poor performance from Chisnall? His seasonal average is just over 90 and he has lost six of his last ten matches. His last seven have seen sub 90 averages, so yesterday’s performance was just normal. Chisnall has lost six of his seven second round matches on the Euro Tour in 2026.
Nijman is an improving player, and already at an elite level. He has won eight titles in 2026, including two Euro Tour titles. He wasn’t at his best earlier this week but still made a semi-final in PC27. His B game is way better than Chizzy’s A game right now.
Nijman is the 1.29 favourite to win and the odds look fully justified. Maybe a touch generous?
Their H2H record is 4-0 to Nijman and they last met in the World Matchplay before the summer break, Nijman winning 10-5. In their other match in 2026, Chisnall averaged 103.68, and still lost 4-6.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: 1 point Wessel Nijman to win -2.5 legs @ 1.91 with Boylesports
Jermaine Wattimena vs. Andrew Gilding
Wattimena is my fancy to win the tournament but he faces something of a nemesis in Andrew Gilding. Captain Strange is…strange and he clearly freaks Wattimena out.
The Machine gun is not as fast as he once was, but he plays at a much faster pace than Gilding and he clearly struggles with that. Their H2H record is 7-3 to Gilding and he has won their last four, including a 6-4 and 6-0 in 2026.
Gilding is not in great form, losing five of his last ten matches and hitting five sub 90 averages. Wattimena is in great form, winning seventeen of his last eighteen matches. He won PC 27 on Tuesday and if he is to get one over on Gilding, you would think it would be now.
However, having backed him for the outright win, he will probably get stuffed. No bet.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: No Bet
Danny Noppert vs. Ritchie Edhouse
Edhouse didn’t have to do much to beat a very poor Conor Scutt 6-2 yesterday. Scutt averaged just 75.89 and threw in the towel very early. The wonder was how he won two legs. Probably because Edhouse was poor as well.
The former European Champion averaged 88.90, very much in keeping with his recent form. He has lost six of his last ten matches and hit six sub 90 averages.
Noppert is one of darts’ great underachievers. He hoovers up money but rarely wins any titles. He has a comfort zone and playing someone like an out of form Edhouse is meat and drink for him.
Their H2H record is 4-1 to Noppert and he won their last match 6-5 in the German Darts Grand Prix in April. Noppert went on to lose the final that weekend. Since then, Noppert has played six second round matches and lost three. His recent form sees six wins from his last ten, and his last three were all 97 averages.
Noppert is struggling on the Euro Tour and will not be feeling overly confident, but he should justify odds of 1.57. However, it is not a betting match for me. No bet.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: No Bet
Ryan Searle vs. Niko Springer
This is very tricky. Springer is a very hard player to call. He is the defending champion and after his 6-1 first round win over Maik Kuivenhoven, he has won his last seven matches in the event.
He played well yesterday, averaging a solid 95.06.
Overall, he is not in good form, losing five of his last ten matches, but he likes the Euro Tour. He has won five of his six second round matches in 2026 and his only defeat saw him average 102.84 in a 3-6 loss to Gian van Veen.
Superior Searle
Searle is a better player than Springer, but as much as Springer loves the Euro Tour, Searle hates it. He had a good go at it in 2024, reaching a final, another semi-final and six more quarter finals.
Since then, he has made one final and two quarter finals from twenty-three events, and lost nine second round matches. He has lost four of nine second round matches in 2026. His recent form sees six wins from his last ten matches and he is playing pretty well, but can he bring it to the Euro Tour?
Their H2H record is non-existent as they have never met before, which is strange.
Searle is the 1.62 favourite, Springer 2.50. I will have a go with the Euro Tour enthusiast.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: 1 point Niko Springer to win @ 2.50 with BET365
Luke Woodhouse vs. Rob Cross
Cross won his first-round match vs. Beau Greaves last night. It was a proper game of darts, going to a deciding leg with both players averaging over the ton. His reward is to face the in-form Luke Woodhouse.
Woody has won eight of his last ten matches and will be hoping to take advantage of getting promoted to seeded status after Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal. He has lost five of his nine second round matches on the Euro Tour in 2026, but he won the Baltic Sea Darts Open and reached two other quarter finals, so he is clicking on the Euro Tour.
H2H
Cross has also won eight of his last ten matches, so we have two players in top form. Their H2H record is 6-4 to Woodhouse and he has won their last three in a row. They have only played once since November 2023, Woodhouse winning that 6-2 back in April.
This has the look of a close match, but of their ten best of eleven leg matches, only three have been over 9.5 legs.
Cross is the 1.67 favourite and while we have a small interest in him to win the title, the value lies with Woodhouse.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: 1 point Luke Woodhouse to win @ 2.38 with SpreadEx, Betvictor
Gary Anderson vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
The lesser spotted Anderson is trying to have a late run on the Euro Tour and make the finals. He hasn’t played since losing the quarter finals of the Matchplay in late July. Nearly six weeks off and he won’t have done much in the way of practice.
Ratajski won the European Darts Open in early July and has won eight of his last ten matches. He hasn’t been very consistent, but he has been winning.
Their H2H record is 7-1 to Anderson and he has won their two Euro Tour matches, 6-1 and 6-2. Anderson is the 1.50 favourite but this is a bit of a mystery game for me. No bet.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R2 Tip: No Bet
Chris Dobey vs. Tom Sykes
It is always worth opposing Dobey on the Euro Tour. He has lost twelve of his last twenty-two Euro Tour matches, and four of his last five.
Sykes has won five of his six Euro Tour matches and averaged 101.20 in a 6-1 thrashing of Cameron Menzies last night. They have met just once, Dobey winning 6-5. But this is a stage match and Dobey is a better player on the floor.
