Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the 2026 European Championships after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.
The world number 2 would be making his sixth appearance in Dortmund after finishing as runner-up last year.
Under PDC rules, Humphries will be replaced directly on court by Kim Huybrechts, the highest unqualified player in the 2026 European Tour rankings.
Belgium’s Huybrechts will now face Ryan Searle on Thursday evening, with the winner facing either Danny Noppert or Stephen Bunting on Saturday.
World No.1 Luke Littler will face William O’Connor in his European Championship opener, while Gian van Veen will begin his title defense against Andrew Gilding.
Following the first-round contests on Thursday and Friday, Saturday’s action will see eight second-round matches played over the afternoon and evening sessions, before the quarter-finals take place on Sunday afternoon before the semi-finals and final on Sunday evening.
The action begins at Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen on Thursday, with a top prize of £150,000 up for grabs on Sunday 25 October.
2026 European Championship of Machine Searchers
Thursday 22 October (18:00)
First round x8
Luke Woodhouse vs Dirk van Duijvenbode
Danny Noppert vs Stephen Bunting
Niels Zonneveld vs Cameron Menzies
Gerwyn Price vs Rob Cross
James Wade vs Damon Heta
Kim Huybrechts vs Ryan Searle
Gian van Veen vs Andrew Gilding
Ross Smith vs Karel Sedlacek
Friday October 23 (18:00)
First round x8
Ryan Joyce vs Jermaine Wattimena
Krzysztof Ratajski vs Dave Chisnall
Nathan Aspinall vs Cristo Reyes
Jonny Clayton vs Niko Springer
Luke Littler vs William O’Connor
Wessel Nijman vs Martin Schindler
Kevin Doets vs Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock vs Chris Dobey
Saturday, October 24
Afternoon session (12:00)
Second round x4 – game standings TBC
Smith/Sedlacek vs Wade/Heta
Van Veen/Gilding vs Woodhouse/Van Duijvenbode
Zonneveld/Menzies vs Price/Cross
Noppert/Bunting vs Huybrechts/Searle
Evening session (18:00)
Second round x4 – game standings TBC
Nijman/Schindler vs Joyce/Wattimena
Clayton/Springer vs. Rock/Dobey
Ratajski/Chisnall vs Doets/Van Gerwen
Aspinall/Reyes vs Littler/O’Connor
Sunday, October 25 – PLEASE NOTE THE CLOCKS GO BACK OVERNIGHT
Afternoon session (12:00)
The quarterfinals
Evening session (18:00)
semi-finals
ultimate
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