The 2026 Flanders Darts Trophy now has a different feel: Luke Littler is no longer expected in Antwerp this weekend, and Kim Huybrechts has been handed a valuable chance in front of a Belgian crowd. It matters because the tournament comes straight after Littler’s Prague title, at a point in the PDC season where every scheduling choice already has end-of-year consequences.
According to DartsNews, Littler’s withdrawal opens the door for Kim Huybrechts, who was third reserve for the Belgian event. The Sporting News also sets out the tournament frame: 48 players, an event running from 11 to 13 September, and £230,000 in prize money.
A withdrawal that changes the Belgian story
On paper, Littler’s absence obviously removes the biggest name from the field. But the more interesting angle is elsewhere: Antwerp gains a home player who can lift the room. Huybrechts does not enter as a tournament favourite, but this kind of late chance can quickly become a story if the draw gives him a route.
The timing also makes Littler’s decision fairly easy to understand. He is coming off a strong weekend at the Czech Darts Open, which he won in Prague, beating Luke Humphries in the final. For a player already qualified for Dortmund and expected at other major events, lightening the European Tour schedule makes sense. For the Belgian tournament, though, the effect is immediate: the top line loses Littler, but the crowd gains a more local hook.
| Tournament | 2026 Flanders Darts Trophy |
| Venue | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Dates | 11 to 13 September 2026 |
| Latest change | Luke Littler withdraws, Kim Huybrechts added to the field |
| Prize money | £230,000, including £35,000 for the winner |
Humphries, Van Gerwen and Price keep the field strong
Littler’s withdrawal does not empty the tournament. Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, James Wade, Josh Rock, Stephen Bunting, Gary Anderson and Nathan Aspinall still give the top end of the draw real depth.
That is where the Flanders Darts Trophy keeps its sporting edge. Humphries has to respond after losing the Prague final, Van Gerwen is still rebuilding rhythm, and several players have very concrete reasons to chase ranking money. This is not a major, but it comes at the right moment: close enough to the autumn events to matter, and strong enough to create damage from Friday onwards.
Beau Greaves remains another thread to follow
The event also keeps the Beau Greaves angle. After her historic first European Tour win in Prague, her expected presence in Antwerp naturally extends that story. The context will be different, but each extra appearance tells us a little more about her ability to back it up in a highly visible PDC environment.
At this stage, the draw matters even more. Without Littler, a few paths open up. With Huybrechts, the event gains local tension. With Humphries, Van Gerwen, Price and Greaves, it still has enough substance to avoid becoming a simple calendar stop.
The key update before the draw
The first version of this article mainly read the tournament through the announced field. The 8 September update changes the focus: the story is no longer just Antwerp’s depth, but how Littler’s withdrawal shifts attention towards Huybrechts and the other headline names.
The real start of the weekend will come with the draw. If Huybrechts lands a winnable match, the Belgian story can take off quickly. If Humphries or Van Gerwen ends up in a dangerous section, the tournament will still carry real sporting interest despite Littler’s absence.
