Ross Smith won the 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy after beating Gary Anderson 8–2 on Sunday evening in Budapest. The title is doubly significant: the Englishman has secured his second European Tour title of the season and turned a final that was expected to mark Anderson’s big comeback into a clinical display.
The victory was confirmed by the PDC’s official report and further detailed in Sky Sports’ coverage. The story of the day is this: Smith didn’t simply win a final; he cut short the momentum of the weekend’s in-form player at the very moment the crowd thought they were about to witness one last Scottish comeback.
Ross Smith shut the door very early on
The final turned on its head right from the opening legs. Smith held his throw with a 103 checkout, then replied with a 124 into the bullseye to lead 2–1. Anderson already needed a big run to stay in the game, but the doubles quickly made the difference. Smith took the break, pulled clear to 4-1, then continued to capitalise on every opening.
On a night like this, there’s no room for error. The final score, 8-2, tells the story of an almost one-sided final, but the statistics lend even greater weight to the performance: an average of 101, a 73 per cent success rate on doubles and a final leg concluded with a break in 11 darts. Smith also walks away with the £35,000 prize money promised to the winner and climbs to 15th in the world rankings according to the PDC.
| Final | Ross Smith beats Gary Anderson 8-2 |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2026 Hungarian Darts Trophy, MVM Dome, Budapest |
| Smith’s average | 101 |
| Doubles | 73 per cent success rate |
| Winner’s prize | £35,000 |
A second European Tour title that changes the reading of his season
Smith had already won the International Darts Open in Riesa in May. Budapest therefore confirms that this was no one-off. The former 2022 European champion is having a season in which he has at times lacked consistency, particularly following two defeats on the World Series, but his best weeks remain of a very high standard. When his scoring is on form and the doubles are falling, he can stifle an opponent without giving them a moment’s respite.
His run in Hungary is a case in point. He first beat William O’Connor 6-2 with an average above 100, before knocking out Jonny Clayton 6-4, Dave Chisnall 6-2 and then Danny Noppert 7-3 in the semi-final. This was no ordinary final: Smith dominated proceedings throughout the day, maintaining enough composure to produce his best darts when it mattered most.
Gary Anderson had, however, set the tone for the weekend
The defeat is a heavy blow for Anderson, but it must not overshadow his tournament. The Scot had kicked off his weekend with an average of 105.27 against Krzysztof Ratajski, before surviving several tense matches. Against Stephen Bunting, he came back from 3-0 down. Against Nathan Aspinall, he saved five match darts and hit a 160 checkout to stay in the match.
That is also why the final mattered. Anderson arrived with history on his side, the support of the crowd and the aura of an old guard still capable of shaking up the draw. Smith responded differently: not with noise, but with precision. After a day in which Anderson had already survived in Budapest, the final act revealed the limits of that momentum. Having spent so much time playing catch-up, he eventually came up against someone even more clinical than himself.
Budapest confirms the European Tour’s stature
The MVM Dome welcomed nearly 6,000 spectators, a figure billed as a record for a European Tour event. This detail matters, as these tournaments are no longer merely ranking weekends. They establish form, reshuffle the seeding order and provide plenty of excitement ahead of the PDC season finale.
For Smith, the message is clear: he now has two European titles in 2026 and a final victory over an Anderson who had once again become a threat. For Anderson, the weekend remains a positive one, even if the final image is a bitter one. For the circuit, Budapest leaves one thing certain above all: in the late-summer sprint, Smith has just reminded everyone that he can still take centre stage when his game is on form.
