MERVYN KING won the opening Players Championship of 2011, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-1 at the Gerry Weber Centre in Halle.
King ended an 11-month gap between titles by claiming victory in the first of two tournaments being staged in Germany this weekend, earning £6,000 in the process.
The world number 11 came through tough battles with Patrick Bulen, Kevin Munch, Gary Welding and Mark Hylton to reach the last eight, coming from 5-3 down against Hylton before edging victory.
Having overcome Ireland's William O'Connor 6-1 in the quarter-finals, he then knocked out world number seven Simon Whitlock 6-3 in the semis, winning five of the final six legs.
He then swept past van der Voort in the decider, taking out a 101 finish and double four to lead 2-0 before van der Voort hit back to take the third with the aid of a 180.
King finished 120 for the fourth, and punished three misses from the Dutchman for a 4-1 lead.
He then hit two successive 180s for six perfect darts in the next, which he won in ten darts before sealing a 6-1 victory on double four for his first title since winning back-to-back events in Swindon last February.
"It means a huge amount to me because it's the first tournament I've won since losing my Dad last year, and this was for him," said King. "It's been a tough period for me but to win an event is a huge relief.
"This is a venue I've been successful at before, reaching the German Darts Championship final in 2009, and it's been good to me again.
"I wanted to make a good start to the year after dropping out of the top ten and I've done that. It's a huge boost and I'd love to keep this form going."
Van der Voort's run to the final continued his challenge for a spot in the world's top 16 after he reached the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship recently.
The Dutchman, who won two Players Championships on mainland Europe last year, edged past Scotland's John Henderson 6-4 in the semis, sealing victory with a 127 finish.
He had earlier defeated Colin Osborne in a deciding leg in the quarter-finals, and also overcame World Championship semi-finalist Mark Webster, Justin Pipe and Dave Chisnall - who hit a nine-darter in their second round game.
Henderson enjoyed a superb debut on the PDC ProTour, reaching the semi-finals a fortnight after winning a Tour Card at Qualifying School in Wigan.
The Scot picked up victories against England's Dave Smith, Greece's John Michael and Belgium's Kim Huybrechts before edging out Andy Smith in the quarter-finals, only to miss key doubles in the semis against van der Voort.
"I'm delighted to have reached the semi-finals," said Henderson. "I thought it may take me a few events to settle in but all the players made me feel really welcome and I've fitted in great, and that has helped.
"It's a shame I didn't go on to win but my confidence is really high after reaching the semi-finals."
Smith's route to the last eight included a win over world number one Phil Taylor, who hit back from 4-0 down to trail 5-4 before falling to defeat in his first appearance since losing to Mark Webster in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship four weeks ago.
"Andy played really well," said Taylor. "I could have been 3-1 up but I didn't take my chances and he finished really well.
"It's frustrating when you get beaten but sometimes it gives you a kick up the backside. I'm still a little bit off my form but other players, like Andy, are playing really well too.
"I've got some new darts which I need to practice more with because I haven't had a lot of time with them yet. I've got some hard work to do and I'll put it right."
Australian Simon Whitlock made a strong start to the new year, with his run to the last four including a fine 6-1 quarter-final victory over five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
Like Henderson, another PDC newcomer Dave Chisnall also made an immediate impact on his PDC ProTour debut, hitting a nine-dart finish during a narrow loss to van der Voort, earning him a £1,200 bonus.
Ireland's Willie O'Connor reached his second Players Championship quarter-final, while namesake Shane O'Connor was one of three youngsters who won through Qualifying School to progress to the last 32, alongside Shaun Griffiths and Adam Smith-Neale.
Play continues with a second £35,000 Players Championship on Sunday at the Gerry Weber Centre.
Players Championship 1
Preliminary Round
Lothar Freiberger 6-2 Christian Braumer
Karsten Koch 6-2 Vedran Dukic
Lucio Rave 6-1 Karsten Kornath
Olaf Fiss 6-5 Dietmar Burger
Richard van Zijtveld 6-4 Lars Erkelenz
Remco van Eijden 6-0 Marcel Radmer
Armend Avdija 6-4 Mario Hermann
Marcel Ruiters 6-4 Kai Hanus
Johnny Okken 6-2 Matheus Ziolkowski
Christian Kruger 6-0 Wolfgang Pelzer
Michael Rasztovits 6-5 Peter Martin
Johann Honner 6-5 Jasmin Beganovic
Boris Krcmar 6-2 Sebastian Lemmer
Jan-Guldsten Hansen 6-1 Christian Bachmeier
Rocco Maes 6-1 Dennis Crook
Stefan Schaffer 6-4 Michael Peters
Patrick Bulen 6-3 Kai Nithammer
Mareno Michels 6-5 Vladimir Andersen
Kevin Munch 6-1 Dieter Proksch
Roland Kurok 6-3 Wolfgang Honert
Christian Kallinger 6-3 Jann Hoffmann
Sladan Nedic 6-1 Gerhard Kremer
Simon Craven 6-0 Hans-Christian Paffrath
Reinhard Timmermann 6-5 Martin Santamaria
Stefan Nilles 6-0 Markus Hoffmann
Antonio Justicia 6-4 Erwin Renkema
Sebastijan Pecjak 6-0 Markus Reither
Gregor Gorjup 6-3 Huseyin Zengin
Stefanie Luck 6-1 Frank Liebeton
John Michael 6-1 Sabrina Sporle
Davyd Venken 6-0 Heiko Gallinat
Maik Langendorf 6-0 Frank Eisentrager
Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Rene Hellmich
Detlef Barchanowitz 6-2 Marko Balzer
Ingo Vogt 6-2 Zeki Tatli
Tonci Restovic 6-3 Peter Trapp
Patrick Langbecker 6-1 Arno Merk
Jon Archer 6-4 Ronnie Volkenant
First Round
Simon Whitlock (1) 6-0 Lothar Freiberger
Peter Manley 6-4 Wayne Mardle
Steve Hine (32) 6-0 Karsten Koch
Steve Evans 6-4 Par Riihonen
Mark Dudbridge (16) 6-4 Lucio Rave
Arron Monk 6-4 Mick Todd
Alan Tabern (17) 6-1 Olaf Fiss
Peter Wright 6-1 Richard van Zijtveld
Ronnie Baxter (8) 6-5 Remco van Eijden
Magnus Caris 6-3 Andree Welge
Jelle Klaasen (25) 6-1 Armend Avdija
Tomas Seyler 6-2 Adrian Gray
Denis Ovens (9) 6-4 Marcel Ruiters
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Marko Kantele
Steve Brown (24) 6-2 Johnny Okken
Ian White 6-2 Dylan Duo
Mark Walsh (5) 6-0 Christian Kruger
William O'Connor 6-1 Devon Petersen
Paul Nicholson (28) 6-3 Michael Rasztovits
Adam Smith-Neale 6-4 Jyhan Artut
Wayne Jones (12) 6-2 Johann Honner
Shane O'Connor 6-4 Scott Rand
Terry Jenkins (21) 6-3 Boris Krcmar
Michael Rosenauer 6-3 Jan-Guldsten Hansen
Wes Newton (4) 6-1 Rocco Maes
Matt Padgett 6-2 Carlos Rodriguez
Dennis Smith (29) 6-1 Stefan Schaffer
Gary Welding 6-4 Dave Ladley
Mervyn King (13) 6-3 Patrick Bulen
Mark Hylton 6-2 Chris Thompson
Steve Beaton (20) 6-3 Mareno Michels
Kevin Munch 6-2 Andy Jenkins
Colin Lloyd (2) 6-4 Roland Kurok
Shaun Griffiths 6-3 Darren Johnson
Brendan Dolan (31) 6-1 Christian Kallinger
Kirk Shepherd 6-3 John Part
Kevin Painter (15) 6-1 Sladan Nedic
Per Laursen 6-4 Antonio Alcinas
Colin Osborne (18) 6-3 Simon Craven
Bernd Roith 6-4 Richard Timmermann
Vincent van der Voort (7) 6-1 Stefan Nilles
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Michael Smith
Justin Pipe (26) 6-3 Antonio Justicia
Kevin McDine 6-2 Nandor Bezzeg
Mark Webster (10) 6-4 Sebastijan Pecjak
Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Nick Fullwell
Gregor Gorjup 6-4 Richie Burnett (23)
Steve Maish 6-3 Martyn Turner
Jamie Caven (6) 6-2 Stefanie Luck
Steve Grubb 6-4 Roland Scholten
John Michael 6-2 Tony Eccles (27)
John Henderson 6-3 Dave Smith
Andy Hamilton (11) 6-4 Davyd Venken
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Joe Cullen
Barrie Bates (22) 6-4 Maik Langendorf
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Prakash Jiwa
Phil Taylor (3) 6-0 Detlef Barchanowitz
Wayne Atwood 6-4 Brian Woods
Nigel Heydon (30) 6-2 Ingo Vogt
Aodhagan O'Neill 6-0 Matthias Jacobi
Tonci Restovic 6-2 Co Stompe (14)
Robert Marijanovic 6-1 Albin Kulasic
Andy Smith (19) 6-0 Patrick Langbecker
Jon Archer 6-2 Rudiger Lohse
Second Round
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Peter Manley
Steve Evans 6-2 Steve Hine
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Arron Monk
Alan Tabern 6-4 Peter Wright
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Magnus Caris
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Tomas Seyler
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Denis Ovens
Steve Brown 6-1 Ian White
William O'Connor 6-5 Mark Walsh
Adam Smith-Neale 6-2 Paul Nicholson
Shane O'Connor 6-5 Wayne Jones
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Michael Rosenauer
Wes Newton 6-3 Matt Padgett
Gary Welding 6-4 Dennis Smith
Mervyn King 6-5 Mark Hylton
Kevin Munch 6-5 Steve Beaton
Shaun Griffiths 6-4 Colin Lloyd
Kirk Shepherd 6-5 Brendan Dolan
Kevin Painter 6-2 Per Laursen
Colin Osborne 6-2 Bernd Roith
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Dave Chisnall - Dave Chisnall hits nine-darter
Justin Pipe 6-3 Kevin McDine
Mark Webster 6-4 Mensur Suljovic
Steve Maish 6-0 Gregor Gorjup
Steve Grubb 6-5 Jamie Caven
John Henderson 6-5 John Michael
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
Kim Huybrects 6-5 Barrie Bates
Phil Taylor 6-1 Wayne Atwood
Aodhagan O'Neill 6-4 Nigel Heydon
Tonci Restovic 6-4 Robert Marijanovic
Andy Smith 6-0 Jon Archer
Losers £200
Third Round
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Steve Evans
Alan Tabern 6-2 Mark Dudbridge
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Steve Brown
William O'Connor 6-3 Adam Smith-Neale
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Shane O'Connor
Gary Welding 6-3 Wes Newton
Mervyn King 6-3 Kevin Munch
Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Shaun Griffiths
Colin Osborne 6-3 Kevin Painter
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Justin Pipe
Mark Webster 6-3 Steve Maish
John Henderson 6-2 Steve Grubb
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 6-2 Aodhagan O'Neill
Andy Smith 6-2 Tonci Restovic
Losers £400
Fourth Round
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Alan Tabern
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Jelle Klaasen
William O'Connor 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King 6-4 Gary Welding
Colin Osborne 6-3 Kirk Shepherd
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Mark Webster
John Henderson 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Andy Smith 6-4 Phil Taylor
Losers £600
Quarter-Finals
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Mervyn King 6-1 William O'Connor
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Colin Osborne
John Henderson 6-5 Andy Smith
Losers £1,000
Semi-Finals
Mervyn King 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 John Henderson
Losers £2,000
Final
Mervyn King 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000
Semi-Finals
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Mervyn King
1-0 - Whitlock finishes 102 to hold throw
1-1 - King checks out double 18 to level
2-1 - Whitlock hits a 180 and finishes 96 in two darts
2-2 - King replies with a 180 before levelling on double two
2-3 - King breaks for the first time in the game, hitting another maximum and double eight
2-4 - Double top puts King two legs clear
3-4 - Whitlock hits back with double 16, following his second 180 of the game earlier in the leg
3-5 - King finishes 100 to move a leg away from the win
3-6 - Whitlock misses the bullseye for a 116 finish and King checks out double six with his third dart for victory
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 John Henderson
1-0 - van der Voort breaks on double top, hitting the finish at the fifth time of asking following a missed double five, for a 95 finish, from Henderson
2-0 - The Dutchman lands double top again to extend his lead
2-1 - Henderson hits a 180 in an 11-darter to get off the mark, as he takes out 81 in two darts
2-2 - The Scot takes out 81 for the second successive leg as he levels
3-2 - van der Voort punishes three misses from Henderson with double ten to lead again
4-2 - van der Voort moves two clear with double four at the third time of asking
4-3 - Henderson finishes double ten for a third leg
5-3 - The Dutchman checks out 77 on double ten to move to the brink of victory
5-4 - Henderson keeps the game alive with double top
6-4 - Henderson hits another maximum but misses three darts at double 12 and van der Voort takes out 127 on double eight for a place in the final
Final
Mervyn King 6-1 Vincent van der Voort
1-0 - King takes out 101 for the first leg
2-0 - Double four sees King break throw to extend his lead
2-1 - van der Voort breaks back on double eight after hitting a 180
3-1 - King checks out 120 for another break
4-1 - van der Voort opens the fifth leg with a 180 but misses three darts at a double and King steps in on double eight
5-1 - King checks out a brilliant ten-dart finish, opening with back-to-back 180s, and hitting a 125 before landing double eight
6-1 - King pulls clear with two 140s and lands double four to take the win