Luke Littler shared a touching message to express his support for Wayne Mardle following the tragic death of his wife.
The darts community is rallying around Mardle following the passing of his wife, Donna, who passed away last week after a brief battle with illness.
Among the many tributes, rising star Luke Littler shared a touching message to express his support for the beloved darts personality.
During the opening night of the PDC World Darts Championship, Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton delivered the heartbreaking news, saying:
“Wayne is the heart and soul of darts and everything we do. But the heart and soul of his world, his wife Donna, sadly passed away earlier this week after a short illness.
“We will be remembering Donna throughout this tournament. Wayne, you’re in our thoughts. You’re in our hearts. We love you very much. And we will see you very soon.”
Luke Littler’s Classy Tribute
Luke Littler, the betting sites’ favourite to win the tournament, took to social media to share his condolences with Mardle.
In a simple yet heartfelt message, Littler wrote, “Thinking of you”, followed by a heart emoji.
All our thoughts and condolences are with Wayne Mardle and his family, after the passing of his wife Donna earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/hn8xVzDvau
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 15, 2024
Luke Humphries Pays His Respects
The defending World Champion Luke Humphries also paid tribute to Mardle and his late wife, Donna, before opening his campaign with a commanding victory over Thibault Tricole.
Speaking about the loss, 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 for him if he needs.”
Littler’s Upcoming Campaign
Luke Littler will begin his World Darts Championship campaign on Saturday, December 21, where he faces the winner of Fallon Sherrock or Ryan Meikle.
Littler acknowledged the unique atmosphere that could arise if he plays against Sherrock, a fan favourite, saying, “If I do come across her, I don’t know what the crowd would be like. Against Fallon, it might be a bit different.”
As Littler looks ahead to his matches, his tribute to Mardle is a reminder of the close-knit camaraderie within professional darts, proving the sport is about more than just competition.
