Ex-No 1 darts ace who was left penniless lands World Championship spot due to obscure rule

Mervyn King has qualified for the PDC World Championships as a result of finishing fourth on this year's Challenge Tour Order of Merit. It will mark the first time in three years that the former BDO World No. 1 has played at darts' most prestigious event.

While there are just three places up for grabs at Alexandra Palace each year for members of the Challenge Tour, usually reserved for the top three in the Order of Merit, King has landed his spot in the Worlds as a result of second-place Darius Labanauskas already qualifying through the PDC Pro Tour. As a result, the third and final spot for the World Championships dropped down to fourth, with King claiming the invitation. He will join fellow Challenge Tour stars Stefan Bellmont and Ted Evetts at Ally Pally in December.

Currently sitting 122nd in the PDC World Rankings, King's last outing at the flagship event of the darts calendar came in 2023. During that event, he was eliminated by Rob Cross in the third round. Michael Smith won the title that year, securing a 7-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in the final.

It comes just months after King declared bankruptcy. Back in March, the 59-year-old was left broke as a result of owing HMRC more than £500,000 as a result of missed tax payments - with debts mounting up over a 20-year period.

Speaking about his situation with The Sun, King said at the time: "I hid my head in the sand. Tracey is worried that we're going to lose the house. But if we do, we do.

"There's nothing I can do about that. It's all down to the official receiver and what he wants to do. I'll have to deal with him fairly and honestly - so anything he wants to know, he can have.

"I made the move to contact them. I knew this was coming. It was better than them finding me and saying, 'Excuse us Mr King, why haven't you paid tax for 20 years?' Because I think I'd have been straight inside.

"Now it's all going to be cleared one way or another - whether I lose everything and the house goes. If it does, then at least it's back to square one and I'll start again."

Urging younger generations to learn by his mistakes, he added: "It's trying to help others so they don't end up in this position. It's not a place to be, trust me. I wouldn't wish this on anybody.

"I want to hopefully try to help any up-and-coming youngsters so they don't end up in the same predicament as I did. If I can help one youngster, then it's worth doing. My message is, 'Don't do what I did. Don't hide your head in the sand when you realise you're in a bit of a slump with HMRC.'"

The BDO's No. 1 player in both 2000 and 2005 has yet to win a World Championship. That's despite clinching a World Masters, a Finder Masters and an International Darts League a piece in the early 2000s. Luke Littler heads into this year's event at Ally Pally as the reigning champion, with the teenage sensation looking to come out on top over a wealth of stiff competition once again.