"I had two good years in there and then I lost my father and went down the rankings": Mervyn King would never want to take part in Premier League Darts again

Mervyn King is back on the PDC Tour and determined to prove over the next two years that he can still compete at the highest level. The former world number four reclaimed his Tour Card via Q School and is once again among the top players on the circuit.

In an extensive interview with Tungsten Tales, the nearly sixty-year-old veteran spoke candidly about his form, his ambitions, the financial pressure of recent years, and his striking view on the Premier League Darts.

For King, this phase of his career is not primarily about titles or ranking positions, but about rediscovering his old level. He feels his game is coming back, but he is not quite where he wants to be yet.

“I’m not really setting goals,” says King. “I’m trying to do as well as I can. I’ve got personal goals with my game, not as far as winning tournaments are concerned. My personal goals are to play as well as I can, get that throw back, that natural throw where everything feels part of me and you don’t even have to think about it. That’s the first goal. When I can get there, that’s when the 100 averages will come.”

According to King, the issue lies mainly in the fluency of his throw. Where he was once known for his smooth style, he now notices the occasional small hitch.

“It’s not quite as silky smooth as it used to be. There’s a little bit of jittery and I’m trying to work through that now. If I can throw the dart smooth like I used to, maybe it’s age coming through or trying too hard because I’ve been out, I don’t know. But if I can get back to that nice silky smooth throw without any juddering, snatching or pulling, then the 100 averages will come.”

The fact that King is even playing at the highest level again is something he didn’t expect a while ago. Recent years were marked by financial problems and bankruptcy, a period that had a major impact on his career.

“To actually qualify for the Worlds through my ranking and in the Challenge Tour was fantastic. To get my card while going through that was unbelievable. To have that much pressure on my shoulders and to come through the other end victorious on both accounts, qualifying for the Worlds and getting my card back, I wouldn’t have dared believe that at the start. But it happened. So yeah, it’s fantastic.”

The financial consequences of that period are still being felt. King admits he now enters the season with less security than before, but tries to keep that off the oche as much as possible.

“I try and leave the thought of money behind, because if you’re playing for money, you’re playing for the wrong reason and it won’t do you any good whatsoever. Yes, we all need money to survive. I could have done with a better start to the season in the Pro Tours than I had, but it is what it is. We’ve played them—I can’t go back and play them again.”

Due to the bankruptcy he has less financial reserve than in the past. “Things are tight. Things are very tight because I’ve been relieved of some money through the trustees and the bankruptcy. What I would normally have there as a cover if things didn’t go as well as planned is no longer there. So now I’ve got to fight to win a bit. But I try and leave that at the door. I still want to be the last man standing at a tournament. That’s the main thing for me. And if I do that, then the money will come with it.”

Despite his age, King is nowhere near thinking about quitting. On the contrary, he expects to be on tour for at least two more years, and possibly longer if his form improves further. “At least two years. Some will say that’s great and some won’t. I’m a bit Marmite—I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but there you go. If I can start finding a bit of form and back to the really good darts again, then I might be around for a little bit longer than two years.”

The Englishman is about to turn sixty, but still feels competitive enough to carry on. “In 11 days, I’m 60 years old. I didn’t think I’d even reach 40, to be fair. But 60. If I can carry on playing the way I am and a little bit better, I may still be here at 65. I may be a little bit less consistent nowadays and the form has dropped a little bit, but we can get that back.”

A key part of his preparation has always been the mental side, according to King. Visualization plays a big role, something he has done throughout his career. “Visualising myself in my mind lifting that trophy or shaking their hands at the end of the tournament—that’s something I have always done and always believed in. It works. It does work, if you can do it.”

King believes the mental aspect of the game is becoming increasingly important, especially now that young players are breaking through at ever younger ages.

“A lot of them will see the top of the game and they’ll be around for a lot of years, but some of them have got the wrong attitude as well so they’ll disappear. I’ve seen them come and go—he’s the next big thing and two years later you don’t see them anymore.”

He also sees a difference compared to his own generation. “I’m still learning at 60. I’m still learning this game and I’m still learning how to do things. If you think you know everything, you are way wrong.”

Finally, King also spoke about the Premier League Darts, the tournament in which he himself was active for two seasons in the past. His opinion about the prestigious event is strikingly candid. “It means more to some players than others. You’ve got players that actually play to get into that because they want it so bad. Others can’t really be bothered with it but they’ll play because they’ve qualified for it or they’ve been asked to.”

His own stint in the competition ended abruptly, something that still sticks with him. “I had two good years in there and then I lost my father and went down the rankings. I’ve been very close to being back in there but they decided not to put me in it again. Fine, that’s their decision.”

When asked if he would ever want to play in the Premier League again, King gives an answer few players would. “If I ever did win the World Championship I wouldn’t play in the Premier League.”

Even when pressed, he does not change his stance. “I’d turn it down… I’d go and watch it, I wouldn’t play in it.”