marked his return to the European Tour with a dominant 6-1 victory against Connor Scutt in Sindelfingen, Germany on Saturday. But his post-match interview involved questioning about a bizarre moment in which cameras caught Cool Hand becoming Wet Hand on the stage.

Humphries didn't compete in the two previous European Tour events since his 7-6 International Darts Open semi-final defeat to Stephen Bunting in April. He was back in action at the European Darts Grand Prix, though, and looked a level above Scutt to cruise into the round of 16. However, the world No. 1 raised eyebrows with his actions behind Scutt as he stepped up to the oche, which he touched on after the win.

Humphries appeared to take a drink of water on his table by bending over and sipping without the use of his hands, rather than the customary method of lifting up the glass.

When pulled up on his behaviour in the aftermath, the 30-year-old clearly hoped the cameras didn't pick it up as he laughed the moment off and frantically explained himself.

"Did that get shown on camera? It was... my hands were so sweaty, and I didn't want to touch the glass because it was so, like," Humphries explained in his on-stage interview.

"There was so much moisture that I was like, if I pick it up with my hands, it might make...

"Look, it's very hot out here. It's really, really tough. It's like being abroad when you're on holiday.

"But you have to make the best of a bad situation, and I thought if I don't touch the glass, I won't add that moisture to my hands, and it worked!

"I didn't know you were going to catch it on camera. I was hoping I did it discreetly, but yeah, I was just trying to help myself a bit."

Humphries certainly didn't deter himself as he stormed to a demolition job, setting up a last-16 clash with Michael Smith on Sunday.

Smith edged past Germany's Daniel Klose in a 6-5 thriller in the round of 32 to move four wins away from pocketing the £30,000 winner's prize.

That will also be firmly in Humphries' sights as he vies to bounce back from a disappointing Night 13 in the Premier League Darts.

The former world champion fell to a 6-5 defeat to Gerwyn Price in his first match of the night in Birmingham.

Humphries is scheduled to face Michael van Gerwen to start Night 14 in Leeds, where he will bid to cement his spot in the top four.