Story Highlight
– Mark Webster pauses broadcasting for personal medical reasons.
– Experienced darts commentator since retiring in 2019.
– Former World Champion, reached World No 6 ranking.
– Battled dartitis, which ended his playing career.
– Found renewed passion for darts through commentary.
Full Story
Sky Sports commentator and former darts champion Mark Webster has announced a temporary hiatus from his broadcasting responsibilities due to health concerns. The 42-year-old from Wales has been a familiar face on screens, providing insights on Premier League Darts and major tournaments like the PDC World Championship since retiring from professional play in 2019.
A statement from MODUS Sports Management clarified, “On behalf of Mark Webster, we 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.” The nature of Webster’s medical issue has not been made public.
Known as ‘The Spider’ during his career, Webster achieved remarkable success, including winning the BDO World Championship in 2008 after defeating Simon Whitlock in the final. He peaked at number six in the PDC Order of Merit and reached the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship twice, facing setbacks against legends Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis.
In 2010, he claimed a title at a ProTour event and came in second place at the Players Championship Finals the following year. Webster’s playing career was marred by dartitis—a condition that inhibits motor skills—leading him to step away from professional darts in 2019. Reflecting on his career, he described a particularly challenging match against Daryl Gurney during the UK Open in 2017, capturing the emotional toll of his struggles.
“I was in tears in the back,” Webster recounted on the Tops and Tales podcast about that match. “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.”
Despite the difficulties, he found renewed enthusiasm for darts through commentary, expressing joy in staying connected to the sport. In a 2022 conversation with his sponsor Monarch Water, Webster shared, “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.”
