A prominent darts player — stripped of his Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Tour Card — has opened up about a deeply personal and painful reason behind his sudden withdrawal from the public eye and competitive circuit.
Who is the player — and what happened?
The player is William Borland, who made headlines years ago after a memorable nine-dart finish at the World Championship. (talkSPORT)
Despite his talent and early promise, Borland lost his Tour Card and — for a time — disappeared from the professional darts scene. (talkSPORT)
The heartbreaking reason: family health crisis
In a recent candid interview, Borland revealed that his break from the sport wasn’t due to a lack of motivation or poor form — it was because his mother and grandmother fell seriously ill. He said he felt compelled to step back from darts and dedicate himself to caring for them during their recovery. (talkSPORT)
His mother underwent tests for Alzheimer’s, and the family situation demanded constant attention. Borland described the decision as a painful but necessary choice — prioritising family over his professional career at a time when they needed him most. (talkSPORT)
What it cost him
Because of that decision:
- Borland missed key tournaments and ranking events. (talkSPORT)
- He was unable to qualify for the World Championship this year — a major blow to any pro’s career aspirations. (talkSPORT)
- Losing the Tour Card meant he no longer had automatic access to top-tier PDC events, making a comeback much harder than before. (talkSPORT)
Despite attempts to return later in the season, Borland admitted that focusing on recovery and family made it impossible to maintain the consistency required to regain his status. (talkSPORT)
He’s honest — and hopeful for the future
In speaking out, Borland said he didn’t want fans or the media to speculate about being “lazy” or “giving up.” Instead, he wanted the truth to be known: family came first. He said he remains hopeful for a future return, but only when he feels the timing is right and his loved ones are stable. (talkSPORT)
He added that the time away has given him perspective — something few outside professional sport truly understand.
“When people say I vanished, I want them to know it wasn’t about darts — it was about life.” (talkSPORT)
Why this matters
- The story highlights the human side of professional sports. Success and popularity don’t shield athletes from personal family crises.
- It shows the difficult choices players must sometimes make — choosing family care over career ambitions.
- For many fans and aspiring players, Borland’s honesty is a reminder that health, family, and personal well-being should always come first.
If you like, I can also pull together a list of other players whose careers were affected by personal tragedy — showing how common and serious these issues can be.
