ROBERT THORNTON will miss Thursday's Betway Premier League Night Two in Newcastle through illness.

GARY ANDERSON will belatedly kick off his Betway Premier League title defence against Michael van Gerwen as the season visits Newcastle for Night Two on Thursday.

THE Professional Darts Corporation are delighted to confirm that BetVictor have extended their title sponsorship of the BetVictor World Matchplay, ahead of tickets going on sale for the summer's showpiece event.

THE Professional Darts Corporation and Sportradar have announced a new partnership to include the provision of high-quality live streams from World Series of Darts and European Tour events.

THE Professional Darts Corporation will break new ground once again in 2016 by staging its first tournament live on BBC Sport following an exciting new deal to introduce the Champions League of Darts to the circuit in September.

GARY ANDERSON will return to action in the Betway Premier League at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Thursday.

DAVE CLARK has been named as Champion of Walking for Parkinson's UK ahead of his 200 mile Coast-To-Coast trek in September, with a series of 35 other fundraising walks this year being announced.

STEWART RATTRAY has qualified for the Coral UK Open after winning the Rileys Amateur Qualifier in Greenock on Sunday.

INFORMATION, fixtures and results from the 2016 Betway Premier League.

PHIL TAYLOR ended an almost nine-month wait for a PDC ranking title with a stunning final victory against Michael van Gerwen at Coral UK Open Qualifier Three in Wigan on Sunday.