Webster Joins the PDC Officially

dionsiseire · 05-02-2009 8:19pm #1

As Predicted

MARK WEBSTER has joined the Professional Darts Corporation, and will make his debut on the PDC Pro Tour in Gladbeck at the end of February.

The 25-year-old Welshman won the 2008 Lakeside Championship, defeating Simon Whitlock in the final, and is also a former International Darts League runner-up.

He has opted to leave the BDO circuit to join the PDC, and will play for the first time in the Players Championship double-header in Germany this month.

The left-hander made his mark in 2007, reaching the International Darts League final as well as winning the Welsh Open, Canadian Open, Welsh Classic and World Cup Singles titles.

He reached the quarter-finals at the Grand Slam of Darts in November, but was a second round loser in the defence of his Lakeside title last month.

"It's a new challenge and I'm hoping to revamp my darts career," said Webster, who attended the Whytre & Mackay Premier League Darts in Liverpool.

"I think I needed to be hungry again, I wasn't hungry last year and hopefully this will do the trick.

"It was quite an easy decision and I wish I'd done it last year. It's not a big deal, as far as I'm concerned I just want to play darts again.

"Playing the circuit last year became a bit stale for me, I wasn't as hungry as I should have been and maybe my attitude at times wasn't as good as it should have been.

"Hopefully this year I can kick on and make it a success. I'm coming here to give it my all - I don't want to be half-hearted.

"I quite like the thought that I'll start from the bottom of the Order of Merit and I've nothing to lose - the only way is up!

"Mervyn King and Robert Thornton are obviously the two main players who have been successful since joining the PDC in the last couple of years. If I do half as well as them I'll be delighted.

"My first tournament will be out in Germany and then there's tournaments for six or seven weeks on the trot. I'll be thrown in at the deep end and I hope to be successful.

"Obviously the priority is to make the World Championship but I'm going out to Las Vegas and I'll be trying to get in all the televised tournaments."

Webster is currently resting a shoulder injury which he carried through much of 2008, but is confident he will be back to form for his PDC debut.

"I've had trouble with my shoulder and I can't play for another week or so," he said. "But after that I'll start practising again and I'll be fine."

Webster is the second former BDO World Champion who has opted to move onto the PDC circuit, with 2004 winner Andy Fordham set to return to action in the near future after a bad back.

Fordham has overcome serious illness in the last couple of years and is hoping to restart his career with the PDC.

"I'm really nervous going up to start playing again in front of people," said Fordham.

"I'm throwing with a different dart and have to build my confidence up. Hopefully in six months there will be some improvement and then I'll be able to carry on from there.

"People have been brilliant and I really appreciate the support. I hope I can go up there and give something back to them."