“Assets were taken — my motorcycle and other possessions — and accounts were frozen” – Mervyn King talks openly about long-running conflict with the tax authorities

Mervyn King has experienced almost everything there is to experience in darts over his long career. From world number one in the BDO to a mainstay at the top of the PDC, from major TV finals to the harsh reality of Q-School. Now 59, the Englishman is still on the ProTour and, after a difficult spell, has regained his Tour Card. Speaking to Tungsten Tales, King spoke candidly about his motivation, severe financial troubles, and his drive to test himself against the world’s best once again.

Anyone who thinks King is taking it easier at his age is mistaken. The Englishman has been known as a hard worker his entire career and that has never changed. “When I was in the BDO, when we had one tournament a month, I used to practise between six and eight hours a day, every day,” he said in an extensive interview with Tungsten Tales. According to King, that changed mainly because of the busy PDC schedule. “Now it’s literally every week. You don’t need as much practice because you get enough when you're at the tournaments. It does actually give you some free time now.” Even so, the love for the game remains the main reason to carry on. “If I didn’t enjoy it — both the sport and the competitiveness — then I wouldn’t have entered Q School.”

After losing his Tour Card, King had to try to requalify for the pro circuit through Q-School. That proved anything but easy. “it’s a bit of a Mad Hatter’s room, isn’t it? To be fair, it is crazy and it’s hard work. You have to dig deep,” he said. “But it’s not as crazy as the Challenge Tour, because at Q School you’ve only got one tournament a day. On the Challenge Tour you’ve got two a day — five tournaments in three days. If you go deep in each tournament, the days are very long and very hard.”

For a player who stood on the biggest stages for years, it is a unique experience to be back among hundreds of darters all chasing the same goal. “That’s the breeding ground, isn’t it? You’ve got the Development Tour and the Challenge Tour bringing those 50 or 60 average players up to the level needed to get through Q School.” The pressure was especially palpable on the final day of Q-School, when King realised he still needed points. “It was hard fought, especially on the last day. I thought I was doing okay until I looked at the points table and realised I needed to double my tally. Fortunately, I made the semi-final on the last day, doubled my points, and got my card back.”

The moment he regained his Tour Card hit him hard. “No one said I couldn’t play anymore, but that’s how it felt. I’ve been number one in the world in the BDO and number four in the PDC. If that suddenly goes, when that’s your whole life, that’s tough.”

The Englishman decided to go all in to come back. “I’d been at the top — not the very top in the PDC, but I was world number one in the BDO and number four in the PDC. To have that taken away, or at least not be there anymore when that’s all you’ve known, is very hard.”

Since then, King has been trying to climb step by step back towards his old level. “The game is still there. I’m hitting high 90 averages again, so it’s coming slowly. Thankfully I’ve got two years to hopefully find that form again.”

His first Players Championship after his return also felt different. “Even though I’d played nearly all of them the year before through Challenge Tour invites, it felt different because now I’m meant to be there. It’s not a case of 'we’ve got a space, invite Mervyn.' I’ve earned my place. That means a lot more."

The current PDC calendar is busier than ever and King notices it too. “It’s crazy — absolutely mental. There are so many tournaments now. I’ve got to start qualifying for the European Tours, otherwise I’ll get left behind. It doesn’t matter how well I do on the Pro Tour if I’m not in those events."

Yet his motivation remains unchanged, despite his age. “The same as always. I want to be the last man standing at the end of the tournament and say, 'I’m unbeaten.'”

A year ago, King made headlines due to his financial problems. He was declared bankrupt after a prolonged dispute with the tax authorities. In the interview, he spoke openly about it again.

“Earth-shattering, really. But it was my choice to speak about it,” he said frankly. “Very early in my career I believed that what you won was 'winnings', not earnings. I thought winnings weren’t taxed. I went away and looked into it and saw how much I owed. I thought, “There’s no way I can afford that.” I assumed I could sort it out further down the line as I started earning more money. But I didn’t sort it out — and that’s my fault. I didn’t have guidance and I didn’t look into it properly."

That decision haunted him for years. “We did full disclosure and went back 20 years through all my records. By the time they added fines and interest, the amount was impossible for me to pay. So they made me bankrupt. Assets were taken — my motorcycle and other possessions — and accounts were frozen."

Recently, however, King received good news. “But yesterday I got an email saying that as of today, March 4th, I’m released from bankruptcy. So it’s over. It’s a fresh start."

King chose to go public with his story at the time to warn other players. “The reason I spoke publicly about it is to help younger players. If it stops even one person ending up in the same situation, then it’s worth it.”

According to him, there is more support nowadays, but players still have to use it. “The PDC have the PDPA and the PDPA have people who can help. My advice is simple — go and see the PDPA. They’ll point you in the right direction."

Despite everything, Mervyn King is not thinking about quitting. He knows the top keeps getting stronger, but believes he can still keep up. “Not necessarily goals about winning tournaments. My goals are personal — to get my throw back to being natural again. When everything feels part of you and you don’t have to think about it, that’s when the 100 averages will come."

For a player who has been around for decades, the motivation is still the same as ever. “If I can get back to that smooth throw without snatching or pulling, then the big averages will come.”