Mervyn King beat Simon Whitlock 6-3 in the final to win Group Five of Championship League Darts.
Englishman back on track after injury problems
Mervyn King beat Simon Whitlock 6-3 in the final to win Group Five of Championship League Darts.
King, appearing in his fourth successive day of the event, won six out of seven league matches to finish top of the table.
He then defeated Kevin Painter 6-2 in the semis before winning an exciting final 6-3 against Australian star Whitlock - who lost in a third group final of this year's tournament.
Whitlock took out finishes of 72 and 102 to lead 2-1 in the final, only for King to hit finishes of 120, 111, 105 and 80 to move 5-2 up.
He also missed double seven for an 86 finish in leg eight as Whitlock hit tops to keep the game alive, but the Australian was unable to land double 18 in the next as King booked his place in next Thursday's Winners Group on double 12.
"I'm really pleased with that," said King, who has battled tennis elbow in his throwing arm throughout 2011.
"I played some lovely darts during the day and I'm delighted with how I played in the final.
"I've had my injury problems this year but my elbow is getting better and it's great to be back playing somewhere like I know I can. I can look forward to the Winners Group now and I'll be trying my hardest to win the tournament next Thursday."
Whitlock returns
Whitlock will now return to compete in Group Six on Thursday, after his hopes of finally taking a group victory were dashed at the final hurdle.
The Australian, who lost in Tuesday's semi-finals to Mark Walsh, was defeated in his first three group games but won four in a row to finish third, before defeating Andy Smith 6-3 in the semis.
Smith and Painter also made the play-offs, with 2009 Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne missing out on the top four on leg difference despite four successive wins in the middle of the league phase.
Holland's Vincent van der Voort joins them in returning to compete in Group Five, but Colin Lloyd and Jamie Caven were eliminated, with the latter ending the day without a victory in his seven league games.
Denis Ovens, Alan Tabern and Steve Beaton join the action on Thursday for the sixth of eight groups, with play continuing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week before the Winners Group is contested on Thursday October 20.
