World number two Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the European Championship in Dortmund after falling ill with gastroenteritis. His withdrawal comes just days before the tournament begins on Thursday, disrupting the field in Germany.
Humphries entered the championship on strong form, having recently won the World Grand Prix. He also reached the final of the Swiss Darts Trophy, although he lost that match to Jonny Clayton. The illness forced him to pull out at the last moment, leaving a vacancy in the event.
Belgian player Kim Huybrechts has been named as Humphries’ replacement. Huybrechts was the highest-ranked player from the 2026 European Tour rankings who had not originally qualified for the tournament. The change means Huybrechts will face Ryan Searle in the opening round.
The European Championship will feature eight matches on its first night. Among those scheduled to play are Gerwyn Price against Rob Cross, and the defending champion Gian van Veen taking on Andrew Gilding.
World number one and current PDC world champion Luke Littler is set to begin his campaign on Friday. Littler will meet William O’Connor in his opening match.
The illness ruling Humphries out is confirmed, but no further details about his condition or recovery timeline have been released. The tournament proceeds with the adjusted lineup as the players prepare for the opening throws in Dortmund.
According to BBC Sports.