King defends actions after Players Championship controversy: ‘He needs to know what’s happening before opening his mouth’

Michael van Gerwen blasted Mervyn King following Saturday’s Players Championship clash in Wigan, claiming that the Suffolk ace ‘wasn’t even trying’ following their semi-final at the Robin Park Leisure Centre.

Van Gerwen went on to lift the title in Wigan, subsequent to an 8-5 victory over Ian White, after already defeating King with an average of just 91.4. King took to social media - following van Gerwen spouting some rather harsh views - to defend his actions and deny the Dutchman’s claims of a lack of effort. The former Players Championship Finals finalist stated that he adjusted his grip to suit the streaming board conditions, and did exactly the same during last year’s Players Championship in Barnsley - where he beat James Wade 6-2 in the final. King posted on the : “I am going to tell you all this just once and not not going to comment any more on this! “I found the throw on the streaming boards long as I always do and I hold the dart lower on the barrel to try and gain a little more from it on a throw like that, I also have to throw quicker and more fluent on a long throw or I snatch and they go all over the place that’s how I have to throw on a long throw! “I throw exactly the same when I won the Players Championship in Barnsley last year even quicker actually! “Didn’t hear complaints then but I hit 105 average in the final to win it. “MVG can say what he likes but he is wrong and he will be told by myself in the morning. Just because he is world champ and world number one he does not know everything about everyone so he needs to know what’s happening before opening his mouth!”