Humphries out of European Championship as Woodhouse hits nine-darter

Luke Humphries has withdrawn from the European Championship in Germany after being struck down by gastroenteritis, ruling the world number two out of the tournament in Dortmund.

The withdrawal came after a strong run of form for Humphries, who had won the World Grand Prix and reached the final of the Swiss Darts Trophy, where he lost to Jonny Clayton.

Kim Huybrechts stepped in as his replacement, having been the highest-ranked player from the 2026 European Tour rankings not already qualified for the event.

The Belgian made the most of a hastily arranged opportunity, beating Ryan Searle 6-1 in Thursday's first round with six 180s and a 67% checkout success rate.

Huybrechts described the chaotic turnaround that followed his call-up. "I got a phone call this morning, 9.30am, I think," he said. "I was like dancing around the house just before I picked up. So happy days."

He detailed the journey that followed. "I set off at 2pm, three-hour drive. Had something for food, and actually, it was a good practice," he said. "It was like calm, relaxed, no pressure."

With no accommodation booked for the tournament's free day on Friday, Huybrechts said he would drive the three hours home and decide later whether to return. "It's the first time I've ever done that," he said. "Normally, the day before I come to the venue, so it's the first time I've done three hours for a tournament. Maybe it's a good thing and I'll do it the next couple of times."

Huybrechts now faces Stephen Bunting in the second round, after Bunting edged past Danny Noppert 6-5 with a 160 checkout in the deciding leg.

The other defining moment of the opening round came from Luke Woodhouse, who hit a nine-darter in his 6-3 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Woodhouse struck two 180s in the fourth leg before completing the perfect finish with a 141, his first nine-darter on television.

"It's my first one on a big stage," Woodhouse said. "I tried to keep myself nice and calm. It was more about not letting him back into the game."

He will play defending champion Gian van Veen in the last 16, after Van Veen beat Andrew Gilding 6-4.

Elsewhere in round one, Damon Heta won a deciding leg to beat James Wade 6-5 and will next face Ross Wilson, who ground out a 6-4 win over Karel Sedlacek.

Gerwyn Price overcame a difficult draw against Rob Cross to win 6-2 and will play Cameron Menzies, who beat Niels Zonneveld 6-3, for a place in the quarter-finals.

World number one and reigning PDC world champion Luke Littler begins his campaign on Friday against William O'Connor, according to The Sporting News, with the winner potentially facing Nathan Aspinall or Cristo Reyes in the second round.