Wayne Mardle, the much-loved Sky Sports darts commentator, will be absent from Friday night's World Darts Championship final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen. Sky Sports granted Mardle compassionate leave following the death of his wife, Donna, who passed away after a short battle with cancer on December 15.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) released a statement expressing condolences: "All our thoughts and condolences are with Wayne Mardle and his family, after the passing of his wife Donna earlier this week." Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton also paid tribute to Donna during the opening night of the tournament, describing Mardle as "the heart and soul of everything we do at Sky Sports Darts."
Mardle, a four-time World Championship semi-finalist, has been a key figure in Sky's darts coverage. He was present when Littler lost to Luke Humphries in last year's final but has since praised the teenager's growth, saying: "The best thing that happened was that he got an invite into the Premier League and accepted it... He's right up there with some of the best that we've ever seen."
Littler advanced to the final by defeating Stephen Bunting 6-1, while Van Gerwen beat Chris Dobey by the same scoreline. The final promises to be a blockbuster event, though Mardle's absence will be keenly felt by viewers and colleagues alike.
