THE Professional Darts Corporation sends its condolences to the family of Tom Kirby, who passed away on Monday December 1.

Kirby was the first Irish player to join the PDC, in 1993, and played three times in the World Championship and World Matchplay.

He also played at the 2005 World Grand Prix - appearing at the Citywest Hotel, close to his Kildare home - and four times in the UK Open, with the 2006 tournament to be his last televised appearance.

The 61-year-old has been fighting pancreatic cancer, and he passed away on Monday at Blanchardstown Hospital.

PDC Tournament Director Tommy Cox paid the following tribute:
I have lost a very dear friend with the sad passing of Tom Kirby.

Tom and others like him were the cornerstone of the formation of the WDC/PDC in that they were the first to put their heads over the parapet and join the initial 14 players who were looking for a brighter future for darts.

Tom was very much his own man and there were times when we disagreed but we never lost our mutual respect for each other.

His Irish humour shone through at all times and he has his place in history as the first winner of a full scale open qualification event under the flag of the fledgling Organisation when he qualified for the Samson Masters in Sunderland.

He became a fixture in the early Purfleet years and was active until shoulder and back problems saw him drop out of the upper echelon he had graced for so long.

Ironically Tom left a lasting legacy the last time I spoke to him when he introduced Andrew Spillane to me at the World Grand Prix in Dublin.

That introduction eventually led to the creation of the Killarney Darts Festival.

I'll always have a smile on my face when I think of Tom because his face was very rarely without one.

My condolences to his family and God bless Tom.