MERVYN KING caused a sensation at the Cash Converters Players Championship by knocking out reigning champion Phil Taylor 8-5 in the second round on Saturday evening.
The 45-year-old from Norfolk claimed only his second televised victory over Taylor with a fine display to end the world number one^s hopes of a third Players Championship title in four stagings of the event.
King established an early 3-1 lead and managed to maintain his advantage to seal a place in Sunday^s quarter-finals, although he had missed nine match darts before finally hitting double five to inflict a first televised defeat since June for Taylor.
"It^s always an honour to play Phil and to beat him is special," said King. "I got the win and that^s all that matters, but I did get nervous at the end.
"Most of the match darts which missed were good darts at a double that didn^t go in, but it was a big relief to see the double five go in."
King now plays Kevin Painter in Sunday afternoon^s quarter-finals, as the pair clash in the first of three matches on the day which would give them their maiden PDC major titles.
World number six Mark Webster and St Helens^ rapidly emerging Dave Chisnall were Saturday evening^s other winners in contrasting matches.
Chisnall soared into his second PDC quarter-final with an 8-2 defeat of Co Stompe, but Webster was pushed all the way before defeating number one seed Justin Pipe 8-7.
Webster missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish during the contest, while Pipe saw six match darts go begging before the Welshman triumphed in the deciding leg.
The £250,000 tournament will climax on Sunday evening, with the semi-finals followed by the final at the Doncaster Dome.
MARK WEBSTER 8-7 JUSTIN PIPE
MARK WEBSTER won a deciding leg thriller with Justin Pipe to move into the
quarter-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship following a tense
battle at the Doncaster Dome.
The left-hander twice hit back from behind and also missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish before edging to victory in the 15th leg - after Pipe had missed six darts for the win.
The early exchanges saw Pipe take the opening leg following four missed darts at double top from Webster before the Welshman took out 80 to level and hit a maximum and double ten to lead 2-1.
Pipe opened the fourth with a 180 and levelled in 13 darts before tops edged Webster in front.
However, he missed the same bed to win the sixth as Pipe hit double ten to square the match before finishing 89 on the bull - with Webster waiting on a double - to lead 4-3.
He moved two legs clear in the next, hitting a 180 to set up a 61 finish which was secured on double 18, only for Webster to fight back by landing tops to come back to 5-4 and almost completing a magical nine-darter in leg ten.
He opened with back-to-back 180s and also hit treble 20 and treble 19 on the 141 finish, but missed double 12 by an inch in his bid to land a first televised perfect leg.
He did return to win the leg in 11 darts and square the game before regaining the lead on tops.
However, he burst his score on 91 in the 12th leg - hitting double 14 instead of double nine - as Pipe took out 101 to level before then making Webster pay for five misses as he moved 7-6 up.
Pipe, though, missed his first chance to seal victory in the next as he saw one dart at tops for a 117 finish miss its target, along with three subsequent darts as Webster posted double five to force a decider.
Pipe hit a 140 to leave 50 for victory, but missed two darts at double 16 to give Webster his chance, and he finished double ten to scramble into the last eight.
"That was a real scrap and it sets me up nicely for the latter stages on Sunday," said Webster. "Justin has done really well this year and he played well there, but I^m really pleased to go through."
He added: "I was nervous on the nine-darter and my arm started shaking when I was on the double 12, but it^s experience and hopefully I^ll put it away next time I get a chance!"
Pipe said: "The game was played in great spirits and, although it^s a shame to lose, Mark deserved the win. I^ve had a good year and this is another learning experience for me."
MERVYN KING 8-5 PHIL TAYLOR
MERVYN KING caused a sensation at the Cash Converters Players Championship by
knocking out reigning champion Phil Taylor 8-5 in the second round on Saturday
evening.
The 45-year-old from Norfolk claimed only his second televised victory over Taylor with a fine display to end the world number one^s hopes of a third Players Championship title in four stagings of the event.
King established an early 3-1 lead and managed to maintain his advantage to seal a place in Sunday^s quarter-finals, although he had missed nine match darts before finally hitting double five to inflict a first televised defeat since June for Taylor.
Taylor had taken the game^s opening leg in 14 darts, landing double eight, but that would prove to be the only time in the contest when he would lead.
King levelled on double top and punished misses from Taylor to win the next two on double eight and take a 3-1 advantage.
Taylor hit a 180 and double eight to win the fifth before King took out 81 for a 4-2 cushion, which was cut by double 16.
The world number one then hit another 180 but missed three darts to level the match as King took out 90 on double 15.
Taylor won the next with a 13-darter, landing a 180 and double 16, but King edged to the brink of victory by punishing further missed doubles from the reigning champion.
King was first to a finish in the 12th, but wired double 16 for a 110 finish and three further darts at double eight before Taylor won his fifth leg on double 16.
King, though, hit his second 180 of the game to edge clear in the next, leaving 40 after 12 darts but missing five more match darts before double five sealed his first televised win over Taylor since the 2009 Premier League Darts semi-finals.
"It^s always an honour to play Phil and to beat him is special," said King. "I got the win and that^s all that matters, but I did get nervous at the end.
"Most of the match darts which missed were good darts at a double that didn^t go in, but it was a big relief to see the double five go in."
