Who is Mark Webster and why is the Welsh former professional darts player & Sky Sports commentator known as The Spider?
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MARK Webster is a former darts world champion who has taken to the mike as a commentator during his lengthy break from playing professionally. Here we take a look at his life and careers as both player and pundit — and the meaning behind his creepy-crawly nickname "The Spider".
![[Mark Webster competed as a professional darts player in both the BDO and PDC]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mark-webster-reacting-1st-round-204988399.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Mark Webster was born on August 12, 1983, in St Asaph, Wales. He is a former professional darts player who currently works as a commentator and pundit. Mark has enjoyed a successful career playing in both the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
![[Since taking a break from the pro circuit in 2020, he has worked as a commentator]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/former-bdo-world-champion-mark-949579341_421bfc.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In October 2022, he told Monarch Water — a company he represents as a brand ambassador — that he started playing darts at a relatively late age for a pro. His career began at the age of 18, when he started entering competitions while studying business administration at the University of Liverpool — but his success led him to leave the course in 2004.
![[Mark left uni to play darts, before then learning a trade as a plumber]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NINTCHDBPICT000200403229.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
He said: “I remember going to South Wales with my dad to darts competitions and receiving £700 prize money. “When I started playing in tournaments abroad for ranking points, the prize money was considerably more. "I broke into the top-level darts scene in 2006 when I won the European Cup.”.
![[Mark commentates for broadcasters including ITV and Sky Sports]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/former-bdo-world-champion-mark-949579437_8ca16b.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Even though he was earning good money at the oche, Mark still wanted to learn a trade, so followed friends of his into the plumbing and heating industry. He explained: “Tony Kelly, a one-man-band operation, took me on and organised my apprenticeship with Llandrillo College, where I studied one day a week for four years and gained my level two and three gas certificates.”.
