2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Preview

James Punt made a small loss this afternoon, hopefully we can bounce back. His 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday preview and tips are below.

Afternoon Reflections

It was a -1.20 point loss on this afternoon’s bets. Conor Scutt just didn’t show up, averaged 75.89 and got stuffed 1-6. Kuivenhoven was better but still got stuffed 1-6 by Springer. Martin Schindler missed a lot of crucial doubles and lost 2-6, but he did get over 2.5 180s. Willy O’Connor took care of Sam Price to win that bet.

This evening’s session lacks much in the way of value bets and there are just two bets for the evening session.

Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Callan Rydz

Rydz will be looking to take advantage of his late call up to replace Gerwyn Price. Rydz played earlier this week and played well to get through the World Series tour card holder qualifier, winning five matches and averaging 96.51. He didn’t go so well on Tuesday and Wednesday winning just one match. He also lost to a certain Krzysztof Ratajski, 2-6 in PC27.

Ratajski won ET10 before the summer break and he did okay on his return to action winning seven of his nine matches. He didn’t play that well overall, however, and his best performance was in his 4-6 loss to Luke Littler in Tuesdays quarter final.

Their H2H record is a comprehensive 6-0 to Ratajski, the last coming this week. They have met three times in 2026 and The Polish Eagle won them 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2.

2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point Ratajski to win @ 1.80 with BET365, Hills

Joe Cullen vs. Adam Leek

Cullen is playing OK, winning five of his last ten matches and seven of his ten first round matches on the Euro Tour. He lacks consistency and confidence, but he should be winning this sort of match.

Adam Leek played in the two World Series events down under as one of the home players. He beat Ross Smith 6-5 in New Zealand but that was his only win. It was only his second win in his last ten matches.

Not being a top player, he didn’t have the luxury of not playing in the Players Championships earlier this week, and he dragged his jet lagged arse to Leicester to lose his two first round matches, averaging 84.79. He then had to get over to Budapest for tonight’s match. He will be exhausted.

Cullen is the 1.40 favourite, but I will back him giving up a modest handicap.

2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point Joe Cullen to win -1.5 legs @ 1.70 with Bresbet

Rob Cross vs. Beau Greaves

This will be Beau’s first time playing on the Euro Tour, so she might be a little nervous, and getting Rob Cross as a first-round opponent is a bit harsh. However, she beat Cross on her way to winning her first Players Championship title back in April. That was their second match, Cross winning the first 6-0 in February.

Cross is playing well, is vastly more experienced in these events and that might be the difference. He is the 1.57 favourite, Greaves 2.63, and the odds look about right. No bet.

2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No bet

Cameron Menzies vs. Tom Sykes

Sykes made his Euro Tour debut in ET9 in June and went all the way to the semi-final, beating Menzies 6-4 in the third round. He is a player who is inexperienced but has a good A game. He just needs the consistency to go with it. His recent form sees six defeats in his last ten matches.

Menzies was ill on Monday and didn’t play in the World Series qualifier but he played well on Tuesday, reaching the quarter final, and he won another couple of matches on Tuesday with 99+ averages.

The trouble with Menzies is that he does have spectacular collapses. He literally had one in the second round of the Matchplay when he had to be carried off the stage. He lost a fight with his drinks table at Ally pally, and blew at 5-1 lead in round one of ET10.

All that makes betting on his matches higher risk than it should be. For that reason, I will pass on this one.

2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No Bet

Damon Heta vs. James Hurrell

Hurrell has played in five Euro Tour events and never won a match. His recent form saw seven sub 90 averages in his last ten matches and he had to withdraw after winning his first-round match on Wednesday with an arm injury.

Heta flew back form the World Series events on Monday and didn’t play midweek He would have been jet lagged and it was sensible to go home and try and get his body back to the European time zone. That is the big worry here. Will he be fully over the jet lag? It is a trip he will have made many times, so he will know how best to adjust, and hopefully he will be OK.

Heta has won six of his last ten matches and is playing quite well, if a little inconsistent. He is 4-1 vs. Hurrell and Heta is an accomplished Euro Tour player and title winner.

Heta is 1.33 to win and just 1.54 with a -1.5 leg handicap. With a -2.5 leg handicap he is 2.00 but most of their matches have fairly close. It could be different on the Euro Tour stage, but the jet lag factor is enough for me to say no bet

2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt