Luke Humphries withdraws from European Darts Championship as Huybrechts steps in

Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the 2026 European Darts Championship at short notice due to illness, with Belgian player Kim Huybrechts stepping in to replace the former world champion and last year’s runner-up.

Humphries, known as “Cool Hand Luke,” is suffering from gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu. The illness means he will be unable to compete in the tournament or face Ryan Searle in the opening round.

Despite the setback, Humphries has enjoyed a successful season, claiming two major titles: the World Grand Prix and the World Cup of Darts. He also reached the finals of the World Masters and the Premier League, finishing as runner-up in both competitions.

Under Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) regulations, Huybrechts has been selected to take Humphries’ place in the tournament draw.

The Belgian narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, finishing 33rd in the European Tour Rankings, just outside the 32-player cut-off. Humphries’ withdrawal now gives him another opportunity to compete at the prestigious championship.

Huybrechts had finished level on points with Karel Sedlacek in the rankings battle for 32nd place. However, Sedlacek secured the higher position after earning more prize money across the previous four tournaments, while Huybrechts also had the inferior head-to-head record between the two players.

The late change adds an unexpected twist to the tournament, with Huybrechts now preparing to take advantage of his second chance on the European stage.