Wayne Mardle has paid tribute to 'The Original' Kyle Anderson, who died at the age of 33. Australia's first Indigenous professional darts player was a true trailblazer for the sport.
Anderson played in seven world championships after making his debut in the 2012-13 event and held a PDC Tour card from 2014 until this year.
His greatest spell came as he won a Players Championship and then the Auckland Masters on the World Series of Darts circuit in 2017.
Tributes came pouring in from Anderson's peers following the sad news of his passing, from three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, to his compatriot Simon Whitlock, and a touching social media post from his good friend, Kim Huybrechts.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
"You can just tell from the outpouring on social media that he was liked. He was a nice genuine human being, but you know what? He was respected," Mardle told Sky Sports.
"He packed up a job and moved literally (to) the other side of the world to chase his dream. What a brave individual and to lose him at 33, it doesn't seem fair because of all the sacrifices he has made.
"The darting world really is in mourning. It's not until people have gone - I'm speaking from my own point of view having lost my mum last year - you don't know when you're going to have that last conversation. You don't know when you're going to see them for the last time.
"It's such a sad story for anyone who knew Kyle because he left his mark alright."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch Anderson's nine-darter against Ian White at the 2014 Worlds at Alexandra Palace
Anderson had returned to Australia at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year and relinquished his Tour card in January as he opted to stay in his homeland for family reasons.
He spent four weeks in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 shortly after returning to Australia from the UK at the end of March 2020.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Twitter
This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Anderson also posted a picture, seemingly of himself in hospital, on his Instagram on August 10 alongside the caption: "Getting all too regular now."
"At the top of his game, he was one of the elite. I remember his nine-darter against Ian White because I should have been commentating on the games that day, but I was sat at home with the flu," Mardle recalled.
"You knew then he had levels and he had a game that could win. He did win on the Pro Tour and the Auckland Masters and if there is another Auckland Masters, it has to be renamed the Kyle Anderson Trophy. That was his crowning glory, that was his moment."
Darts is back on your Sky Sports screens when the World Cup of Darts gets underway - join us for all four days of coverage from Thursday, September 9. Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts
