Ross Smith clinched the Hungarian Darts Trophy last weekend, overpowering Gary Anderson 8-2 in the final to celebrate his second European Tour title of the season. But while the title went to Smith, it was Anderson who posted the highest average of the entire tournament, producing an impressive 105.27 in the last 16.
Anderson was the clear standout on averages, showing why he remains one of the most dangerous players on the European Tour. His 105.27 points per three darts was the only average above 105 during the event, and he followed it with a 101.45 in the quarter-finals against Gian van Veen. Those strong performances carried him all the way to the final, but there he couldn't reproduce his top gear, settling for an average clearly below his earlier peaks while Smith stayed in three figures at 101.01.
Behind Anderson, Beau Greaves ranks second on the tournament averages list. The English star averaged a superb 104.88 in the opening round against Rob Cross, leaving her just a few tenths shy of Anderson's tournament best. However, she couldn't convert that strong stat into a deep run. Cross and Tom Sykes also posted ton-plus averages in the last 48, with 101.90 and 101.20 respectively, underlining the high level in the early rounds.
Ross Smith features twice himself near the top of the chart, averaging 101.33 in the last 32 and hitting three figures again in the final with 101.01. That made Smith the only player besides Anderson to record a 100-plus average in two different matches. Nathan Aspinall completes the top ten with a 100.95 average in the quarter-finals, while Keane Barry and Damon Heta also cleared the 100 barrier in the last 48 with 100.77 and 100.67 respectively.
The numbers tell an intriguing story of the Hungarian Darts Trophy. Statistically, Anderson was the weekend's best performer with 105.27, but it was Smith who won the most important match. The Englishman proved again that a high average alone doesn't guarantee success. In the pressure moments, doubles and taking the right legs make the difference. That blend ultimately delivered the top prize for Smith, who confirmed his excellent form with his second European Tour title of the season, while Anderson, despite some eye-catching averages, had to settle for second place.