Unseeded Niko Springer wins Hungarian Darts Trophy 8-7

Niko Springer produced one of the biggest shocks of the European Tour season by winning the Hungarian Darts Trophy on Sunday, defeating Danny Noppert 8-7 in a dramatic last-leg decider at the MVM Dome in Budapest. The 25-year-old German, an unseeded qualifier, captured his first PDC ranking title after a three-day tournament held from September 19 to 21.

The 48-player event, the 12th of 14 PDC European Tour stops this year, carried a total prize fund of 175,000 with 30,000 for the winner and offered crucial qualification money for the European Championship in October. Springer’s run to the title was notable for the quality of opposition he dispatched. He opened by eliminating last year’s finalist Gian van Veen, then beat Damon Heta and former world champion Rob Cross, produced a quarterfinal victory over world number one Luke Humphries and edged past Josh Rock in the semifinals before the tight final with Noppert. Organisers said Springer defeated six players ranked inside the world’s top 20 during the week.

“I’m over the moon to be honest,” Springer said after the final. “I took my chances, so I’m very happy. I can’t believe it. You can see that the crowd is amazing. They were...