Luke Humphries struck down with sickness and pulls out of European Darts Championship hours before facing his close pal

Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the European Darts Championship in Dortmund after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

The former PDC world champion has been forced to miss the four-day televised tournament after falling ill with the condition, which commonly causes diarrhoea and vomiting. The world No.2 will remain at home to recover.

News of Humphries’ withdrawal emerged just hours before he was due to face his close friend Ryan Searle in the opening round on Thursday evening.

The 31-year-old had been preparing to make his sixth consecutive appearance at the European Championship after finishing runner-up to Gian van Veen in last year’s final.

However, his illness has forced him to abandon his title challenge before the tournament has even begun.

Under PDC rules, Humphries will be replaced in the draw by Kim Huybrechts, the highest-ranked player who failed to qualify through the 2026 European Tour rankings.

The Belgian, 40, will now face Searle on Thursday night, with the winner set to meet either Danny Noppert or Stephen Bunting in the next round on Saturday.

Humphries will now focus on recovering in time for his next televised assignment, with the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 14.

£150,000 Prize Awaits European Championship Winner

Despite Humphries’ absence, the European Championship remains one of the biggest events on the darts calendar, with a £150,000 first prize awaiting Sunday’s winner.

Among the leading contenders is reigning world No.1 Luke Littler, who has travelled to Dortmund hoping to add another major title to his growing collection of honours.

The 19-year-old is scheduled to begin his campaign against Ireland’s William O’Connor on Friday evening.

Littler has already enjoyed remarkable success on the professional circuit, but the European Championship remains one of the major titles missing from his impressive collection.

The newly created European Open is another tournament he has yet to win. The event is scheduled to make its debut in Salzburg, Austria, in June 2027.

With Humphries sidelined, the competition has lost one of its leading contenders, potentially opening the door for Littler and the other title hopefuls to strengthen their claims for the prestigious European crown.