Luke Humphries Withdraws from European Championship in Dortmund Due to Gastroenteritis

World No. 2 Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the European Championship in Dortmund, Germany, after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Humphries was scheduled to face Ryan Searle on Thursday evening in his opening match of the £750,000 ranking major. Instead, a severe intestinal infection sidelined the former world champion just as he arrived in Germany, thwarting his bid to capture a European Championship title.

Kim Huybrechts steps into the Dortmund draw

With Humphries ruled out, the tournament hierarchy shifts immediately under official organization guidelines. Under PDC rules, a withdrawal announced after the schedule’s release does not trigger a walkover or a bye.

Instagram

Under PDC rules, Humphries will be directly replaced in the field by Kim Huybrechts, the highest-ranked non-qualified player in the 2026 European Tour rankings.
Professional Darts Corporation, via Sky Sports

That procedural mechanism clears the way for Belgium’s Huybrechts to inherit the 12th seed’s slot in the bracket. The Hurricane now goes straight into the Thursday evening session against Searle, with the winner advancing to face either Danny Noppert or Stephen Bunting on Saturday.

Littler faces reduced competition after top seed's exit

The exit of the world number two alters the competitive landscape in Dortmund, particularly for rival contenders. Humphries was looking to win his first European Championship title after finishing as the runner-up to Gian van Veen in last year’s final.

Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the 2026 European Championship ❌Get well soon, Luke! https://t.co/e39xyMdMQQ
— https://x.com/livedarts/status/2113221808144974317

His absence also removes a formidable obstacle from the bracket for world No. 1 Luke Littler. The 19-year-old enters the tournament seeded 11th, chasing the single major title missing from his resume while bracing for a characteristically hostile crowd in Germany. Littler opens his campaign against William O’Connor, while title defender Gian van Veen begins his defense against Andrew Gilding.

Humphries arrived in Germany fresh off a major victory at the World Grand Prix in Leicester, where he overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-4 last month. That momentum carried him to the Swiss Darts Trophy final in Basel, where he fell to Jonny Clayton. This weekend’s withdrawal drops him to third in the Order of Merit behind Van Veen, though he retains a comfortable margin over Gerwyn Price.

Skysports luke humphries world grand prix darts — Photo: skysports.com

2026 European Championship match schedule spans four days

The 2026 Machineseeker European Championship runs from Thursday October 22 through Sunday October 25 at the Westfalenhallen. Following first-round matches across the Thursday and Friday evening sessions starting at 6 p.m., Saturday features two blocks of action. The afternoon session at 12 p.m. hosts four second-round ties, followed by four more second-round matches in the 6 p.m. evening session.

Sunday’s schedule opens with the quarter-finals during the 12 p.m. afternoon session, leading into the semi-finals and the championship match during the 6 p.m. evening session on Sunday October 25, where a top prize of £150,000 will be awarded. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the action via Sky Sports, which remains the home of darts ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championship.

Just end the piece with a “lol jk” and show a picture of Kimbo Slice
— https://x.com/Charlanardo/status/2113211890574741940

Devastated about that Not in his own hands now to stop Littler doing the clean sweep before him
— https://x.com/Robmccormack19/status/2113211549540377011