Bradwell’s Mervyn King bowed out of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Wednesday following a 4-1 defeat to Michael Van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen, who became the only Dutchman left in the competition, defied nine maximums from his opponent to reach the third round at the World Championships for the first time.

King, who reached the last four back in 2009, missed chances to win the first and fourth sets, which proved to be vital in the final outcome.

The conclusion to the first set proved to be a dramatic affair, as King missed four darts at double eight to win the set and van Gerwen landed double 16 with his last dart, to convert a 74 finish to nick it.

Number 12 seed King recovered from the loss of the first set to win the second without reply from his opponent, to level the match.

Van Gerwen started the third set superbly with a 158 checkout.

King levelled by taking out 86 to win the next leg before van Gerwen forged ahead again by landing double top with his first dart after King had missed a dart at the same bed.

The Dutch youngster then took out 64 in the next leg, to win the set.

King missed two darts to win the fourth set and van Gerwen hit a pressure double seven with his last, to take out 85 to snatch the leg.

The deciding leg saw King hit a 180, only for van Gerwen to hit two of his own.

The Dutchman missed a dart at bullseye, but King was off-target with one dart at double nine and van Gerwen returned to hit double eight.

In the fifth set, the Bradwell thrower hit his ninth 180 of the match in process of winning the fourth leg, but two 180s in the deciding leg from van Gerwen, followed by double eight ended the match.

“I hit the right shots at the right times and that proved to be really important for me,” said van Gerwen.