Darts: Favourite conquered by King

Thursday 10 January 2002 20:00 EST
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Mervyn King came out on top in an Embassy World Championship quarter-final classic at the Lakeside Country Club last night, knocking out the tournament favourite, Raymond Barneveld, with a nail-biting 5-3 victory.

King produced a devastating display of precision at the oche to lead 4-1 and then had to resist a tenacious fightback from the Dutchman, who captured the title in 1998 and 1999.

Barneveld was the tip of most pundits to regain the crown this year after landing the World Masters on the same Frimley Green stage in November and had strolled through his first two matches this week.

King made the better start and went 2-0 ahead. Barneveld fought back, a 156 check-out by the former postman could not stop King from moving 4-1 up and in the next set King could have closed out the match by hitting the bull on a 170 out-shot.

The world No 5 Barneveld took advantage and, now in top gear, the former champion clawed his way back to 4-3 as his opponent began to feel the pressure.

But before Barneveld could take the match to a decider, King hit a 131 check-out to edge over the winning line.

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