In a courageous revelation that has touched the darts community, former world champion and beloved broadcaster Mark Webster has opened up about his battle with a rare form of blood cancer. The 42-year-old Welshman, who famously clinched the BDO world title in 2008, was diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia in January and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

While the word "leukaemia" can be daunting, Webster remains optimistic about his prognosis. "It sounds bad when you say leukaemia, but it's got a good prognosis—95% of cases are successful," he shared in an interview on Darts World's YouTube channel. "I will be put into some sort of remission at some point, but the recovery at the minute is not going to plan in terms of speed."

The popular left-hander from St Asaph, north Wales, has been a familiar voice and face on Sky Sports and ITV darts coverage, but fans have noticed his absence from the commentary box since Premier League night one in February. Webster admits the enforced break has been frustrating, especially as he feels well in himself. "In myself I feel fine, and I would love to go back to work, but they don't like the environment I work in," he explained, referencing advice from his medical team. "At the minute it's a case of doing as I'm told and being patient. It's frustrating because I like to be busy, but hopefully it won't be too much longer."

Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare, chronic blood cancer that primarily affects middle-aged adults, yet with modern treatment, most patients maintain a normal life expectancy. Webster first noticed something was off when he felt "really fatigued" and "was getting very tired." His white blood cell counts have been slow to recover, leaving his immune system compromised. "My white blood counts are still not recovering, so therefore my immune system is not great at the minute, hence why I can't go back to work," he said. "It's not the worst case sort of scenario, but it's just a bit frustrating for me."

For now, the 2008 world champion is focusing on recovery, trusting his medical team, and staying patient. "I can work with people but just in sensible environments. The day-to-day thing is a bit frustrating because I'm used to being busy. I've got to trust the people that have been looking after me. They've been really good," he added.

The darts world is rallying behind Webster, a figure known as much for his warmth and insight as for his on-stage achievements. As he navigates this challenging chapter, fans and colleagues alike are hoping to see him back behind the mic—and back in the game—very soon.