2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 Preview – JP
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 Preview
James Punt has already posted his outright preview, get his tips here. His 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 preview and tips are below.
Ritchie Edhouse vs. Conor Scutt
It is easy to forget that Edhouse was the 2024 European Champion. Since then, he has faded back into the obscurity of the journeyman ranks. He did show some decent form just before the summer break, reaching the quarter final of PC26, but since coming back from the break, Edhouse has played four and lost three.
Scutt has had a tour card for going on five years and has been talked up for, if not greatness, at least good enough to win things. It hasn’t happened. He has lost a couple of Players Championship finals in 2023 and 2024 but done very little of note since.
There was a semi-final back in April, but more recently he has lost six of his last ten matches, Scutt has played in two Euro Tour events in 2026 and won both his first round matches, Edhouse has also played in two events but lost one first round match.
Their H2H record is an unsurprising 1-1. Their last match was on the Euro Tour in 2025, which Scutt won 6-2. Edhouse beat Scutt 5-2 in the 2024 Grand Slam.
With neither player in any sort of form, it is hard to see a clear winner. Scutt deserves to be the 1.71 favourite, but he is no great value. I expect that this will be a bit of a grind.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.00 with Boylesports
Niko Springer vs. Maik Kuivenhoven
Springer is the defending champion, but he is not in great form, losing five of his last ten matches. Since the end of the break, he has played five and lost three. He has won six of ten first round matches on this year’s Euro Tour and he is a better player on the stage than on the floor. Niko reached a Players Championship semi-final just before the summer break.
Kuivenhoven is a journeyman pro who doesn’t win titles, but he can be a disrupter. He has won six of his last ten matches but in the last two years he has played in seven Euro Tour events and won just one match.
These two have only played once with Kuivenhoven winning 6-5 back in 2022. Springer is the better player but on his day Kuivenhoven can be very good. Springer isn’t in great form and this could be another grind.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair, Betvictor
William O’Connor vs. Sam Price
At least this Price has turned up, but it is likely to be a short stay. He has lost eight of his last ten matches and lost his Euro Tour debut 1-6 to Kim Huybrechts in ET10 before the summer break.
O’Connor has to take advantage of this kind draw. He is a provisional 27th on the European Championship O.O.M. and a win here would add at least another £1500 to his tally, and move him a step closer to the finals. O’Connor has won six of his last ten matches and he has won seven of his ten first round matches in 2026.
O’Connor should win this with ease and he is he 1.25 favourite to do so.
2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point O’Connor to win -2.5 legs @ 1.80 generally available
Martin Schindler vs. Keane Barry
This is a tricky one. Schindler has been struggling with his form for a while and his 2026 win rate is just 46%. His recent form sees six wins from his last ten, but he did play some good stuff earlier this week.
Schindy won four matches in the Players Championships and averaged 97.67 across six played. He hit twenty four 180’s in his six matches at 0.48 per leg. When Schindler is hitting the 180s he is a very good player.
Keane Barry is one of those players who can win when you least expect it. He is not as good a player as Schindler, but his A game makes him a dangerous opponent. His recent form sees six wins from his last ten matches and he too was playing good stuff earlier this week, averaging 96.00 in the Players Championships.
Dynamite was only hitting the 180s at 0.14 per leg and if the two players play much the same as they did earlier this week, Schindler should be putting more pressure on Barry than the other way round.
Schindler is 5-2 vs. Barry. They have played five best of eleven leg matches and four saw over 9.5 legs, with three going to a deciding leg.
