RUSS BRAY has announced he will end his full-time refereeing career after the PDC World Darts Championship.
The darts legend confirmed the shock news just weeks before the tournament gets underway at Alexandra Palace.
He is set to take up a new role as a PDC Ambassador in 2024.
The PDC also confirmed Bray will continue to referee on the World Series stage after the World Championship final.
In a video shared to social media, Bray said: “30 years in, old age pensioner now.
“We’ve got some cracking youngsters coming through so, for me personally, I think it’s now time to turn around and say ‘let the youngsters come through’.
“I’ve had a magnificent career so far and hopefully I can carry on in the background.”
Bray has become a fan-favourite during his career in darts, with his iconic voice and calls of “180” synonymous with the sport.
The 66-year-old has been a caller for the PDC since 1996 and has since become “the Voice” of darts.
Prior to his refereeing career, he was a county player, with his start as a caller coming when the regular referee failed to show for a match.
The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship is just three weeks away, with the action beginning on December 15.
Michael Smith is looking to defend his title in London and will hope to appear in the final on January 3.
