LUKE HUMPHRIES and Luke Littler both sent classy messages to Wayne Mardle following the death of his wife Donna.
Mardle was absent from the opening day of the World Darts Championship after Donna passed away following a short illness.
Commentator Mardle is expected to miss the entire event at Ally Pally and world number one Humphries shared some thoughtful words after his win over Thibault Tricole on Sunday.
Humphries said: “He has been with Donna since he has been 14 years old, so it is a horrible, horrible thing for him to go through.
“My condolences to Wayne, he is one of the top, top guys in the world and no one deserves to go through this.
“Hopefully he knows all the players and the fans and everyone is here from him if he needs.”
Tributes have poured in from the darts community including from Littler, who wrote: “Thinking of you”
Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton, a colleague of Mardle, paid tribute live on air.
She said: “Wayne is the heart and soul of everything we do here at Sky Sports darts, but the heart of his world, his wonderful wife Donna, sadly passed away earlier this week after a short illness.
“We will be remembering Donna throughout this tournament.
“Wayne, you are in our thoughts, in our hearts, we love you very much and we will see you very soon.”
Mardle, 51, was set to be one of Sky Sports’ main men during the Worlds, working as a pundit and commentator.
