PDC Statement: Wayne Mardle

WAYNE MARDLE has been withdrawn from the remainder of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts after again being rushed to hospital through illness.

Mardle has been struck down by mumps over the past fortnight and has not been able to compete in the Premier League since week nine in Glasgow.

After being taken to hospital last week, Mardle had made a sufficient recovery to be declared fit to play in Aberdeen on Thursday by his doctors.

However, his health has again deteriorated and the 35-year-old was re-admitted to hospital and has now been ruled out of the remainder of the event.

In accordance with the rules of the tournament, his results from the 2009 season will be struck from the records.

"I know Wayne is gutted to have had to withdraw but his health comes first and we wish him a speedy recovery," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"He had been looking forward to making a late bid to finally win a play-off spot until this latest problem.

"Wayne has asked us to thank his fans for their messages of support in the last two weeks.

"He wanted to play but rushing back would have been a big health risk and as such he has been withdrawn from the last three league nights."

In order to create four fixtures at each of the three remaining Premier League nights, a series of challenge games will now accompany the relevant league matches, featuring the next two players from the PDC rankings as well as three former BDO world number ones.

Scottish star Robert Thornton, the coral.co.uk Players Championship runner-up in January, will take on James Wade in Aberdeen, with Wade having been due to face Mardle at the AECC.

Yorkshire's Dennis Priestley and world number seven Adrian Lewis - both former Premier League stars - will come in at the Sheffield Arena next week.

Priestley will renew his rivalry with Phil Taylor, having faced each other in six major finals throughout their careers, while Stoke star Lewis takes on van Barneveld.

Mark Webster, Wales' former Lakeside Champion, will play Jelle Klaasen at the CIA in Cardiff in a fortnight along with Gary Anderson, the 2007 International Darts League and World Darts Trophy winner, taking on three-time World Champion John Part.

At Aberdeen, three league games will still take place, beginning with Terry Jenkins against Mervyn King.

Both players have lost points due to Mardle's withdrawal, and although King remains in third place the 2007 runner-up has slipped to bottom on five points and must win his final three games if he is to break into the play-offs.

Raymond van Barneveld, who sits fourth, takes on second-bottom Jelle Klaasen in an all-Dutch affair, and the night's final game sees Taylor take on Part.

Part who sat out last week but picked up a win and a draw from his two matches in Exeter a fortnight ago and is only a point behind van Barneveld going into his last two games.

Taylor drew with Wade at the Nottingham Arena last week, but is looking to finish the league campaign with a flourish.

"My aim is to finish top of the table and I'll probably have to win my remaining games to do that with the form James has been showing," said Taylor.

"I always enjoy playing John, he's a great competitor and brings the best out of me, and it will be a great match."

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Revised Fixtures
NB: Challenge Matches are the best of 13 legs. The two players will throw nearest the bull in the practice room beforehand, and the winner can choose to throw first or second.

AECC, Aberdeen - April 23
James Wade v Robert Thornton (Challenge Match)
Terry Jenkins v Mervyn King
Jelle Klaasen v Raymond van Barneveld
John Part v Phil Taylor
Tickets: Sold Out

Sheffield Arena - April 30
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis (Challenge Match)
Phil Taylor v Dennis Priestley (Challenge Match)
Terry Jenkins v John Part
James Wade v Jelle Klaasen
Tickets: 0114 256 5656

CIA, Cardiff - May 7
Jelle Klaasen v Mark Webster (Challenge Match)
John Part v Gary Anderson (Challenge Match)
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 02920 22 44 88

Revised League Table

	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
James Wade	11	6	3	2	+11	15
Phil Taylor	10	5	4	1	+19	14
Mervyn King	10	4	3	3	+12	11
R v Barneveld	10	4	2	4	+2	10
John Part	10	2	5	3	-13	9
Jelle Klaasen	10	1	4	5	-17	6
Terry Jenkins	9	1	3	5	-14	5