PDC World Championship: Richie Burnett to miss tournament

Burnett has played on the PDC circuit for more than a decade

Former world champion Richie Burnett has been "removed" from the forthcoming World Darts Championship for "personal reasons", according to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

Welshman Burnett, 47, won the British Darts Organisation (BDO) world title in 1995 but will miss the 2014-15 PDC event at London's Alexandra Palace.

Burnett's absence means Stuart Kellett becomes the 32nd seed for the event.

The PDC World Darts Championship takes place from 18 December to 4 January.

Cwmparc-born Burnett, who won the World Masters in 1994, has played on the PDC circuit for more than a decade.

All seeded players below him move up one place, while Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez, 20, qualifies.

Dutchman Ryan De Vreede, 22, is into the last 64 as the fourth highest-placed non-qualified European from the ProTour Order of Merit.

Burnett's fellow Welshman Mark Webster, 31, who won the BDO world title in 2008, is ranked 31st for the PDC event.