Mervyn King won his first round match at the PDC World Championships at Alexandra Palace with a comfortable victory over American Darin Young on Monday night.

The Ipswich-born thrower dropped only one leg as he swept past the American number one in straight sets.

The former semi-finalist took the first two sets without reply, and also led 2-0 in the third before Young replied with double seven.

Young then scored 180, 140 and 165 in the next leg as he threatened a comeback, only to miss 13 darts at doubles as King clawed back into the leg before claiming the win on double top.

“In the first two sets I felt totally in control, and everything Darin did I matched or bettered, and I never felt like I was going to lose,” said King.

“If it keeps going and I do hit form then I’m going a long way. I’ve got Ricky Evans next, and the way he dispatched Ronnie Baxter shows that he’s getting used to the stage.”

Prior to the first round tie, King had confessed to the EADT and Ipswich Star that he was struggling to find form.

“I’m a bit up and down, I hit some good form earlier in the year but things aren’t gelling right at the moment,” said King.

“You can’t force it though – all I can do is keep practising before my game on Monday.

“I peaked too early last year. I was able to hit the wings of a fly two weeks before the tournament. By the time I got to Alexandra Palace I had hit the top and was on the way back down.”

He added: “I’ve been the World Masters champion and held world titles but it would be nice to be world champion. To do that you have got to hit some proper form though.

“People say there are only four players that can win the World Championship,

“I would say there’s at least 12 players that can win but they have got to show good form on the day and really turn it on and that’s something they don’t do very often.”

Colchester’s Colin Lloyd starts his campaign against Beau Anderson tonight, while Ipswich Town fan Kevin Painter plays his first round game on Thursday against Germany’s Tomas Meyler.