Sky Sports pundit and former darts star Mark Webster is taking a step back from his broadcasting duties due to a ‘personal medical condition’.
The 42-year-old Welshman has become a regular on the screen, covering Premier League Darts and other major events such as the PDC World Championship since his professional retirement in 2019.
A statement read: ‘On behalf of Mark Webster, MODUS Sports Management can confirm that Mark will be taking a short break from his broadcasting duties, due to a personal medical condition.
‘We please ask that you respect Mark’s privacy at this time.’
Webster’s medical condition has not been disclosed.
Webster, nicknamed ‘The Spider’ during his playing days, enjoyed a dazzling playing career which included a BDO World Championship in 2008 after beating Simon Whitlock in the final. He reached a high of World No 6 in the PDC Order of Merit.
Sky Sports pundit and former darts star Mark Webster is taking a step back from his broadcasting duties due to an unnamed medical condition
He reached the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship twice, but was knocked out on both occasions to Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis respectively.
The Welsh thrower also won a ProTour title in 2010 and finished runner-up at the Players Championship Finals in 2011.
He quit playing professionally in 2019 after battling dartitis, a condition frequently likened to the ‘yips’, a term describing the sudden loss of ability to perform basic sporting actions.
He recalled earlier this year a pivotal match against Daryl Gurney in 2017 at the UK Open fourth round in which his struggles hit their peak.
He told Tops and Tales podcast: ‘One of my real meltdowns was at Minehead and I was playing Daryl Gurney. We’d fallen out over time and it kind of brought us back as friends again, because I was struggling so bad.
‘We went into a break. It was like 7-3 going to break. I was in tears in the back. And I was like, Daryl, we need to finish here. I think he beat me 9-4 or 10-4 in the end.
‘I was glad to get off. I said I can’t do this anymore. And then that was sort of the coming to the end. I missed the World Championship that year for the first time. And I started coming down the rankings.’
But, he later revealed, commentating on the sport had reignited his passion for the game that he had once loved playing.
‘I really enjoy commentating as it keeps me involved in the sport and I see some great talent coming through,’ Webster told sponsor Monarch Water in 2022.
‘At first I was a little bitter that I couldn’t play, but now I love it, being able to be with friends and watch the sport.’