TWO-TIME World Darts Champion Dennis Priestley, 57, has asked the PDC to issue the following statement to clarify the situation with regards to his health.

Dennis said:
Following several months of tests I have recently been diagnosed with cancer of the prostate.

This was confirmed before the recent John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic in Ireland and unfortunately I was forced to withdraw during this event suffering from pains in my abdomen.

I visited two specialists this week, firstly regarding radiotherapy treatment and the second regarding possible surgery.

My feelings at present are that I will opt to have surgery at some point, probably in the early New Year, although the diagnosis is not a cause for immediate concern and I am confident that I will return to full health.

I have decided to announce this news so as not to create any unneccesary speculation as to the state of my health, or to detract from my preparations for the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts or the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

I fully intend to participate to the best of my ability in both tournaments and believe I can win them.

I would also like to thank my family for their support during this time, as well as my friends within the darts community and my sponsors.

I will try to keep anybody who is interested updated with any developments via my website, www.dennispriestley.co.uk.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE HERE AT DARTSMAD WISH DENNIS ALL THE BEST AND PRAY THAT THE TREATMENT IS SUCCESSFUL ENABLING DENNIS TO GET BACK TO THE OCHE AND DO WHAT HE DOES BEST.

SIMON WHITLOCK has edged closer to winning the Park Trent Properties Australian Grand Prix, after his victory in the Mittagong RSL Club Open.

Whitlock took the title with a 6-0 whitewash of Mike Merz in the final of the tournament, earning him the maximum ten ranking points.

He is now 22 points clear of Steve MacArthur in the table, with the winner of the AGP earning a Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship place.

Whitlock overcame MacArthur in the quarter-finals of the tournament, and saw off Russell Stewart in the semis.

Brian Roach and Barry Jouannet, who both have World Championship experience, were last 16 losers in the event.

Mittagong RSL Club Open
Winner - Simon Whitlock (10 points)
Runner-Up - Mike Merz (8 points)
Semi-Finalists - Ray O'Donnell, Russell Stewart (6 points)
Quarter-Finalists - Dave Fitzpatrick, Rod Crawford, Steve MacArthur, Jerry Weyman
Last 16 - Barry Jouannet, Brian Roach, Paul Cotton, Phil Heath, Garrie Nelson, Paul Neighbor, Peter Corcoran, Matt Kalett

SIMON WHITLOCK moved a step closer to qualifying for the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by winning the two AGP events this weekend.

Whitlock is now 16 points clear at the head of the Park Trent Properties AGP rankings with four events remaining after taking his list of wins in 2007 to five in a row.

Saturday saw him win the Oak Flats Bowling and Recreation Club Soundwaves Open with a victory over Russell Stewart in the final.

Sunday's Russell Stewart Classic saw him average 102.5 in defeating Steve Macarthur 6-1, including three 13-darters.

He had defeated Stewart in the quarter-finals and fellow Queenslander Glen Power in the semis.

Stewart had two 170 finishes during the weekend as well as hitting seven perfect darts in one leg, while Whitlock also set up two potential nine-darter before twice failing on dart seven.

Oak Flats Bowling and Recreation Club Soundwaves Open
Winner: Simon Whitlock
Runner-Up: Russell Stewart
Semi-Finalists: Paul Cotton, Steve Macarthur
Quarter-Finalists: Glen Power, Daniel Sim, Craig Strooisma, Shane Haddy
Last 16: Pat Duke, Phil Botterill, Dave Fitzpatrick, Barry Jouannet, Rod Crawford, Brian Roach, Matt Kaletta, Pete Corcoran

Russell Stewart Classic
Winner: Simon Whitlock
Runner-Up: Steve Macarthur
Semi-Finalists: Brian Roach, Glen Power
Quarter-Finalists: Rod Crawford, Phil Botterill, Russell Stewart, Barry Jouannet
Last 16: Paul Cotton, John Hector, Pat Duke, Shane Haddy, Matt Kaletta, Peter Corcoran, Chris Orr, Jerry Weyman

SIMON WHITLOCK took another step towards qualifying for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with victory on the Australian Grand Prix circuit this weekend.

Whitlock is now clear at the top of the AGP rankings and can take an insurmountable lead if he wins next weekend's tournament at the Russell Stewart Classic in Oak Flats, NSW, which carries double ranking points.

Whitlock was a 6-0 winner over Russell Stewart in Sunday's fourth Park Trent Properties AGP event of the year.

His whitewash in the final repeated his success in Saturday's non-ranked Goulburn Workers Club Open.

Barry Jouannet, twice a World Championship qualifier, was defeated by Whitlock in the semis, with Steve Macarthur the other last 16 loser.

Park Trent Properties Australian Grand Prix
Goulburn Open
Winner: Simon Whitlock - 10 points
Runner-Up: Russell Stewart - 8 points
Semi-Finalists: Barry Jouannet, Steve Macarthur - 6 points
Quarter-Finalists: Glenn Power, Brian Roach, Paul Cotton, Mick Tapper - 4 points
Last 16: Gordon Ling, Mike Merz, Mark Jobson, Shane Haddy, David Clegg, Jamie Browne, Dave Fitzpatrick, Jerry Weyman - 2 points