World No 2 Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the 2026 European Championship in Dortmund due to a gastroenteritis diagnosis. Kim Huybrechts replaces him in the 32-player field, altering the opening-night schedule at the Westfalenhallen.
Gastroenteritis Forces World No 2 Out of Dortmund
Luke Humphries pulled out of the 2026 European Championship after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis. The world number two had been scheduled to make his sixth appearance at the £750,000 ranking major in Dortmund. He arrived as the runner-up from last year’s event.
Illness struck on the eve of the tournament. The Englishman’s momentum halted just weeks after he captured the 2026 World Grand Prix title in Leicester.
Humphries reached last year’s European Championship final, losing 11-10 to Gian van Veen. Following the withdrawal, Van Veen will now overtake Humphries in the Order of Merit. This moves the Englishman down to third, but with a comfortable gap to Welshman Gerwyn Price in fourth. Humphries was last in action in Basel at the Swiss Darts Trophy, where he was defeated by Jonny Clayton in the final.
Kim Huybrechts Steps In Under PDC Regulations
Kim Huybrechts entered the field as the highest-ranked non-qualified player on the European Tour Order of Merit. The Professional Darts Corporation activated tournament regulations to determine a replacement for the vacant spot in the 32-player bracket.
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
The late promotion hands the Belgian competitor an unexpected lifeline after he missed out on automatic qualification during the Dutch Darts Championship. Working under the guidance of former professional Erik Clarys, Huybrechts now finds himself thrust immediately into the spotlight.
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Huybrechts Faces Ryan Searle in Dortmund
Huybrechts takes over Humphries’ exact slot in the draw. This sets up a Thursday evening clash against Ryan Searle at the Westfalenhallen.
The winner of that match advances directly to Saturday’s second-round session. A meeting with either Danny Noppert or Stephen Bunting awaits.
The tournament begins on Thursday October 22 at Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen and runs through Sunday October 25, when the final is scheduled for Sunday evening.