Ashburton's Craig Ross will replace Tahuna Irwin as the DartPlayers New Zealand (DPNZ) qualifier for the upcoming world darts championship in London.
Irwin encountered immigration issues before the recent PDC World Youth Championship and has now withdrawn from the world championship, which runs from December 14-January 2 (NZ time).
Ross, 48, was selected to replace Irwin, after finishing runner-up in the DPNZ qualifier in Invercargill in July. Irwin beat Ross 7-2 in the final.
Ross has a decade of experience on the circuit in Australia and New Zealand, including his qualification for the 2017 Oceanic Masters.
Fellow New Zealander Cody Harris will also compete at the world championship for a second consecutive year, after he secured his spot via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit last week.
Ross will be the 12th Kiwi to represent New Zealand at the world champs, joining Harris, Warren Parry, Mark McGrath, Rob Szabo, Craig Caldwell, Koha Kokiri, Dave Harrington, Warren French, Preston Ridd, Phillip Hazel and Alan Bolton to have done so in the past.
Newshub.
