Luke Humphries will not win back-to-back majors after he scooped the 2026 World Grand Prix last time out in Leicester as 'Cool Hand Luke' has been forced to withdraw on the eve of the tournament.

Humphries has been forced to withdraw from the tournament after he has contracted gastroenteritis (stomach flu) and so is not able to play this evening in Dortmund. He finished as a runner-up last year and was set to make his sixth appearance in the tournament.

Under PDC rules, Humphries will be directly replaced by the next player along on the European Tour Order of Merit which will be Kim Huybrechts meaning that despite it seeming likely that we would have another major with no Belgians, 'The Hurricane' has snuck in the back door.

Huybrechts has been fantastic at times this season and has revived his career under the help and guidance of Erik Clarys as others such as Dimitri van den Bergh and Mike de Decker ponder their darting futures. He will go straight into tonight's line-up.

He is set to face Ryan Searle and a big opportunity will now await that section with Humphries gone as the victor faces off against Danny Noppert or Stephen Bunting on Saturday.

European Championship Draw after Humphries withdrawal

Note: Kim Huybrechts replaced (12) Luke Humphries, who withdrew through illness.