LUKE HUMPHRIES claims he lost a stone in weight as he battled with food poisoning that forced him to miss a big TV darts major.

Cool Hand Luke was “devastated” to pull out of last month’s European Darts Championship in Dortmund at the last minute.

The former PDC world champion skipped the four-day event in Germany after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

The ill world No.2 remained at home as he recovered from the common bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Humphries, 31, revealed: “I’ve lost a stone. When I went on the scales, it was after eight or nine days, I weighed myself and I’d lost like 15 pounds.

“And I was like: ‘Jesus, what the hell?’ Probably put a few pounds on with eating normal, But for a while, I couldn’t eat.

“I think that’s the first major I’d ever missed. I was devastated because I had been on a good run.”

Humphries was speaking after winning the penultimate Pro Tour of 2026 on Wednesday, which was staged in Leicester, the scene of his two World Grand Prix victories.

The red scab on his head – which he thought could have been a reaction to make-up used on the TV show Bullseye – was still visible but he is clearly on the mend.

At the Players Championship knockout event, Humphries went from his sick bed to the treble bed, beating 16-year-old English lad Archie Self, Welshman Gerwyn Price, Scotsman Gary Anderson and then Dutchman Niels Zonneveld 8-4 in the final.

Humphries, who banks £15,000 for the triumph, said: “For myself, it’s obviously really nice to come back.

“It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels are like.

“Because I’ve obviously been very ill for the last two weeks. I’ve had food poisoning.

“I’ve not really moved about a lot for three-and-a-half weeks, since that Swiss Darts Trophy.

“I’ve been on the sofa, on the bed, I’ve not really done much.

“I wouldn’t have come here but I thought I would try and give myself some energy.

“Because I need to find where my game is at. To come here and win, it takes you back a little bit.

“I know the game’s there to win these things, but obviously the way I’ve been the last few weeks, it’s an unexpected win for myself.

“I thought to myself, I feel like I’m a little bit back here and I can go on and maybe do something great this year.

“It was a backwards step when you have to miss a tournament. I didn’t practise for two weeks.

“I had a few throws the last four days. Just to come here, it kind of just re-evaluates that confidence again.

“It makes you think, okay, you kind of just carried on where you left off a little bit, which is good for me. Because I didn’t want to come here and disappoint.”