King conquers The Machine

King: Comeback king

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Mervyn King produced a sensational comeback to knock world number three James Wade out of the Players Championship in round one.

Wade, a semi-finalist at the event in 2009, appeared to be cruising into the last 16 at 5-2 ahead, only for King to reel off four successive legs to progress.

The King's reward is a second round match-up with Dutchman Jelle Klassen, an impressive 6-1 victor over Scotland's Gary Anderson earlier in the night.

Wade kicked off a high-quality first round encounter with a 13-darter and then broke King immediately after the Norfolk dartist missed three darts at double 16.

But any thoughts Wade may have had of racing to victory were dispelled when King broke back immediately and held to level the match at 2-2.

Nerveless

Wade edged ahead at the interval with a 65 checkout and more prolific finishing saw the Aldershot man power 5-2 ahead.

But, with his back pressed well and truly against the wall, King upped the ante with a sensational run of heavy scoring and ruthless finishing.

He broke Wade's throw twice to take the match into a sudden-death leg, which he took with a nerveless 14-darter.

King, who averaged 102.18 on the night, said: "I felt comfortable, he shouldn't have been 5-2 up I should have been 4-1 up at the break in my mind.

"I was thinking 'what is going on here' but I dug in and thankfully James missed a couple of shots to let me back in.

"I don't care who I play next, if I go up there and play as well as I can do I'll win, if I don't it does get a bit scary sometimes."

Number three seed Colin Osborne overcome a tough first round draw against Holland's Co Stompe to book his place in the last 16.

'The Wizard' averaged just over 90 during his 6-3 victory, and will play either Michael van Gerwen or Jamie Caven for a place in the last four.

Clinical

Andy 'The Pie Man' Smith and Wayne Jones kicked off Friday night's action and it was the Wolverhampton thrower who claimed victory in a low-quality affair.

Smith, who has been struggling with a chest infection all week, was clearly affected by his illness and crashed out of the tournament following a 6-2 defeat.

Jones will play number two seed Mark Walsh in the last 16 after 'Walshy' overcame a spirited display from Steve 'The Muffin Man' Hine 6-4.

Walsh, who had sped into a 3-0 lead in the opening stages, was forced to withstand a mid-game fightback before prevailing with a clinical 84 finish.

Elsewhere, number six seed Wes Newton emphatically booked his place in round two with a 6-2 demolition of Peter Wright.

Newton will face Ronnie Baxter in the last 16 after 'The Rocket' edged out Mark Dudbridge 6-5 in an epic encounter.

Meanwhile, in the final match of the evening, Dutchman Michael van Gerwen got the better of Jamie Caven as he emerged a convincing 6-2 winner.