Cullen: 'I knew I was going to win'

European Tour

Joe Cullen explained there was no doubt in his mind that he was going to win the European Darts Matchplay.

2020 PDC Calendar confirmed

News

The 2020 Professional Darts Corporation calendar has been confirmed.

Super Cullen claims maiden European Tour title

European Tour

Joe Cullen claimed his maiden European Tour title in the European Darts Matchplay in Mannheim.

2019 European Darts Matchplay Day Two

European Tour

Michael van Gerwen & Mensur Suljovic were amongst the European Darts Matchplay second round winners.

2019 European Darts Matchplay Day One

European Tour

Kim Huybrechts and Michael Smith were among the players to make it through to the second day of the European Darts Matchplay

2019 European Darts Matchplay: Draw and schedule

European Tour

Check out the draw for the 2019 European Darts Matchplay, the 11th European Tour event of 2019.

Rankings update after ET10

ProTour

Gary Anderson has regained his position as world number four following the Austrian Darts Championship (ET10).

Suljovic: 'I could be World Champion'

European Tour

Mensur Suljovic is dreaming of becoming a World Champion after winning the Austrian Darts Championship.

Vienna glory for home hero Suljovic

European Tour

Mensur Suljovic defeated Michael van Gerwen 8-7 to win the Austrian Darts Championship in Vienna.

2019 Austrian Darts Championship Day Two

European Tour

Michael van Gerwen joined home favourites Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez in the last 16 in Vienna.

2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy
MVM Dome, Budapest
Schedule of Play

Friday September 20 
First Round 
Afternoon Session 
Keane Barry 6-2 Darren Beveridge
Niels Zonneveld 6-5 Sebastian Bialecki
Wessel Nijman 6-0 Gyorgy Jehirszki
Florian Hempel 6-5 Callan Rydz 
Cor Dekker 6-4 Janos Vegso
Martin Lukeman 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Alberto Bezjian 6-4 Andras Csoka 
James Wade 6-4 Lukas Wenig 

Evening Session
Jim Williams 6-1 Alan Soutar 
Scott Williams 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Gabriel Clemens 6-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Peter Wright 6-5 Joe Cullen 
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Ritchie Edhouse 
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Michael Smith

Saturday September 21 
Second Round 
Afternoon Session
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 Niels Zonneveld 
Gian van Veen 6-4 Keane Barry 
Ryan Searle 6-1 Alberto Bezjian 
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Florian Hempel
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Cor Dekker 
Scott Williams 6-4 Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler 6-5 Jim Williams 
Josh Rock 6-5 James Wade

Evening Session
Danny Noppert 6-4 Nathan Aspinall 
Peter Wright 6-0 Damon Heta
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Jonny Clayton
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Gerwyn Price
Ross Smith 6-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Gabriel Clemens 6-5 Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Martin Lukeman 
Rob Cross 6-1 Andrew Gilding

Sunday September 22 
Afternoon Session
Third Round
Daryl Gurney 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Ryan Searle 6-1 Peter Wright
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Scott Williams
Gian van Veen 6-3 Danny Noppert
Ross Smith Bye (Ricardo Pietreczko withdrew)
Stephen Bunting 6-4 Martin Schindler
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Gabriel Clemens
Josh Rock 6-4 Rob Cross

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals 
Ryan Searle 6-3 Daryl Gurney
Gian van Veen 6-2 Wessel Nijman
Ross Smith 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Josh Rock

Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 7-5 Ryan Searle
Michael van Gerwen 7-3 Ross Smith

Final 
Michael van Gerwen 8-7 Gian van Veen

Tournament Draw Bracket - Second Round Onwards  
Players seeded based on ProTour Order of Merit position 
(1) Dave Chisnall v Michael Smith/Jonny Clayton 
(16) Daryl Gurney v Florian Hempel/Callan Rydz 
(8) Damon Heta v Peter Wright/Joe Cullen 
(9) Ryan Searle v Alberto Bezjian/Andras Csoka 
(4) Gerwyn Price v Gyorgy Jehirszki/Wessel Nijman 
(13) Chris Dobey v Luke Woodhouse/Scott Williams 
(5) Danny Noppert v Krzysztof Ratajski/Nathan Aspinall 
(12) Gian van Veen v Darren Beveridge/Keane Barry 
(2) Ross Smith v Raymond van Barneveld/Ritchie Edhouse 
(15) Ricardo Pietreczko v Sebastian Bialecki/Niels Zonneveld 
(7) Stephen Bunting v Janos Vegso/Cor Dekker 
(10) Martin Schindler v Jim Williams/Alan Soutar 
(3) Luke Humphries v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Gabriel Clemens 
(14) Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan/Martin Lukeman 
(6) Josh Rock v James Wade/Lukas Wenig 
(11) Rob Cross v Dimitri Van den Bergh/Andrew Gilding 

Michael van Gerwen ended a 16-month drought on the PDC European Tour with a sensational 8-7 win over Gian van Veen to claim the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy title in Budapest on Sunday night.

The Dutch superstar had claimed his 36th European Tour win in May 2023 at the Belgian Darts Trophy, and extended his remarkable record in a thrilling decider at MVM Dome.

Van Veen was searching for his maiden senior PDC title, but the youngster was left to rue one missed match dart - at the bull - before Van Gerwen took the final's deciding leg with a 110 checkout.

Having also won a Players Championship on Wednesday, Van Gerwen has now scooped two titles in five days and £45,000 in prize money in a triumphant return to winning ways.

"This was really important - I had to battle really hard," admitted Van Gerwen. "I was struggling in the final and Gian took advantage, but I was more battling with myself.

"The crowd gave me so much energy and to give them something back, I'm over the moon.

"I think I'm on the right way, especially with my new darts. I missed the winning feeling for a long time but now everything falls into place.

"I want to win more and my love for the game is still there. I need to make sure I keep this momentum going."

Van Gerwen had landed a nine-darter in Saturday's second round win over Martin Lukeman, and maintained that form with a 100 average in his third round win over Gabriel Clemens to open Finals Day.

He then saw off Josh Rock and Ross Smith - averaging 107.87 against the latter in the semi-finals - as he progressed to the decider in his hunt for a 37th European Tour success.

Van Gerwen opened the all-Dutch decider against Van Veen with a roof-raising 170 checkout, and added a second 12-darter and a break of throw to lead 3-1.

Van Veen hit back to level with a 101 finish, but missed his chance to break as Van Gerwen edged back in front, while the pair traded 13-darters to leave the three-time World Champion 5-4 up.

Van Veen then finished 110 to level and double eight to break and move ahead at 6-5, only to miss the bull as Van Gerwen broke back after the pair traded 180s.

Two misses at double 12 from Van Gerwen then allowed Van Veen in to finish 72 as he moved a leg away from victory at 7-6 - but he then wired the bull for a 118 finish for glory.

Double four saw Van Gerwen step in to level and force a deciding leg, and with the advantage of throw the world number three was first to a finish - despite a Van Veen 180 - as he converted a 110 checkout to spark joyous scenes as he lifted yet another European Tour title.

Van Veen had enjoyed a breakthrough win over Van Gerwen in the European Championship last year, but was left to rue a narrow missed bullseye in his search for a first senior title.

A former Development Tour star and the 2023 Winmau World Youth Championship runner-up, Van Veen saw off Keane Barry, Danny Noppert, Wessel Nijman and Ryan Searle in an impressive run to the Budapest final.

"I think I played a really good tournament," said Van Veen. "I was just happy this weekend to get over the quarter-finals, and to beat Ryan in the semi-finals was an amazing bonus.

"But when you're in the final you want to win it. Even though Michael is a fantastic player I missed some chances, and Michael was the deserved winner.

"I'm only 22 years old, and to push Michael van Gerwen this far in the final is an amazing feeling. Of course I'm disappointed.

"I missed the match dart, the 118 on the bull, I think it was really close - but Michael's 110 finish shows his class. He's the deserved winner today and congratulations to him."

English duo Searle and Ross Smith were eliminated in the semi-finals in their search for European Tour glory, while Rock and Nijman were joined by Stephen Bunting and Daryl Gurney in reaching the quarter-finals.

Gurney had produced one of the event's show-stopping moments with a sensational 167 checkout in the deciding leg of his clash with Dave Chisnall to end the Englishman's title defence in round three.

Enthusiastic crowds at the MVM Dome had been treated to three nine-darters across the weekend - a first on the European Tour - with Van Gerwen having followed Cor Dekker in achieving perfection on Saturday.

Martin Schindler then completed the treble of nine-darters during Sunday afternoon's third round, although the German's bid to win a second European Tour title was ended by Bunting.

The PDC European Tour continues next weekend with the inaugural Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel, which will be held from September 27-29.

The tournament is being broadcast live on Viaplay, DAZN and PDCTV (excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and through bookmakers' websites worldwide.

Drawboard