Darts star Sandro Eric Sosing has pulled out of his World Championship match after being taken ill and rushed to hospital.
He was due to play Ian White in the first-round encounter and the Englishman will now receive a bye into the next stage of the tournament.
The Philippine player experienced chest pains as he was getting ready for the match in the practice player.
He was then assessed by medical staff at Alexandra Palace and has been taken for further treatment.
In a statement, PDC Darts said:’Sandro Eric Sosing has withdrawn from his match with Ian White on medical grounds.
‘Sosing reported chest pains whilst practicing and following an on site assessment by medical staff he has been taken for further treatment.’
Sandro Eric Sosing has withdrawn from his World Championship match after falling ill
The world no 225 reported chest pains in the practice area just minutes before his match
It meant that number eight seed Stephen Bunting’s clash with Kai Gotthardt was pushed forward. The Englishman ended up overturning a one-set deficit to dispatch the German 3-1.
Sosing won his first Asian Tour title in March and is ranked 225th in the world.
The 41-year-old qualified for darts’ showpiece tournament after coming second in the PDC Asian Championship.
White, meanwhile, will face compatriot Ritchie Edhouse in the next round of the World Championship.
Friday was yet another busy day at Ally Pally as Alexander Merkx dispatched Stephen Burton in straight sets to progress to the next round before Wessel Nijman beat Cameron Carolissen 3-2 in a thriller and Bunting won.