King blames air conditioning

King says he could not aim for his target

Watch Barneveld beat King to the final

Mervyn King launched a scathing attack on organisers of the Embassy World Darts after his 5-2 semi-final defeat at the hands of Raymond Barneveld.

The Englishman said a failure to turn off the air conditioning during his match meant his darts failed to travel in their usual trajectory.

This claim was disputed by organisers, who insisted the air conditioning had been switched off for the entire match.

But a distraught King hinted he may now boycott the tournament, having experienced similar problems a year ago.

I should be here by right next year but I don't know if I shall bother

Mervyn King

"I'm basically not happy with the place - I asked for a simple job to be done and it wasn't done," King told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I asked for the air-conditioning to be turned off, because it was blowing my darts all over the shop.

"I throw a light dart and I pitch my darts - I don't throw them.

Match report

"I asked for it to be turned off before I went up there and it wasn't. I asked for it to be turned off at the break - it wasn't."

Having fought his way back into the match after losing the first three sets, King's challenge for the final capitulated in the fifth leg of the sixth set.

And King is adamant the conditions damaged his chances.

Under the conditions, I thought I played exceptionally well - but to beat a player like Raymond, everything has to be right and fair

King

"I was aiming halfway across the treble-one to hit a treble-20 because it (the air conditioning) was blowing them across that much.

"Under the conditions, I thought I played exceptionally well - but to beat a player like Raymond, everything has to be right and fair.

"It (the air conditioning) doesn't affect Raymond because he throws a heavier dart and he throws a very flat dart."

Photos from the semi-finals

King was so disillusioned he admitted he may snub next year's event.

"At the end of the day, I should be here by right next year but I don't know if I shall bother.

"I'd love to win the Embassy but if they can't do a simple thing like that (turn off the air conditioning) - what's the point?

"Should I spend £10,000 travelling the world (to qualify) or keep it in my pocket and go elsewhere?"