Mervyn King wiped away tears during an emotional interview after winning a two-year PDC tour card at UK Q-School.
King finished second on the Order of Merit after four days of action in the second stage.
He staged an incredible run to the final on Sunday's event, which included last-leg wins over Jenson Walker and Derek Maclean.
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The 59-year-old's 6-5 win over Maclean in the last 16 meant that King had to avoid losing to Tyler Thorpe by two legs to seal a return to the PDC circuit after a year away.
He went one better than that, beating Thorpe - who himself had already secured a tour card - 6-2 to seal a spot back on the PDC throne for another two years.
King has played darts professionally since 1994 and is a seven-time PDC tournament winner, as well as having won 20 titles - three of them being majors - in the BDO.
It has been a tough 12 months for 'The King', who lost his place on the PDC circuit after dropping out of the top 64 at the end of 2024.
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He failed to win his tour card back at Q-School last year, and spent the 2025 season playing on the secondary Challenge Tour.
King announced in March that he had been declared bankrupt over tax debts owed to HMRC.
He explained that his prize money throughout his career had been marked as 'winnings' and not 'earnings', and that he had realised his mistake during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"It's not a place to be, trust me," he told The Sun. "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.
On the oche, he earned enough prize money through the Challenge Tour to qualify for the 2026 World Championship, where he lost 3-2 to fellow veteran Ian White in round one.
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King finished fourth in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit table but, with only two tour cards available, he had to return to Q-School for a second time.
Two losses in the last 32, before a last 64 defeat on Saturday, meant the Ipswich-born dartist faced an uphill battle on Sunday - but once his job was done, he let out all of his emotions.
A tearful King told the PDC's Dan Dawson: "It means the world to me.
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"I fought hard every day, and things didn't go my way. Today was the last shot, and everything had to go today.
"I wouldn't say everything went my way, but it was slightly easier. Some shots went my way when I really needed them.
"Even though I'm shedding a few tears, I'm one of the happiest guys you'll ever see at the moment!"
"It's hard work, regardless," he continued. "So to actually make that step and to get back on the tour card is something really serious for me. It's fantastic.
"I still think I've got something to offer the game, so that's why I'm here - I don't think I'm finished yet.
"I think I've got some great games to offer on TV and stuff. So that's why I keep going, because I don't think I'm done yet."
Elsewhere in UK Q-School, Charlie Manby - who reached the last 16 of the 2026 World Championship - also secured a tour card after a similarly epic run on the final day.
In fact, Manby was able to secure his tour card outright by defeating King in the semi-final, though had amassed enough points on the Order of Merit regardless of the outcome of that match.
The 2024 WDF world champion Shane McGuirk, and 2025 champion Jimmy van Schie through EU Q-School, both secured their tour cards.
Sweden's Andreas Harrysson, meanwhile, led Jeffrey De Zwaan 5-4 in a match that would have seen him receive his card with a win, weeks after reaching the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.
But the 50-year-old lost 6-5 and missed out via the Order of Merit.
De Zwaan, a former World Matchplay quarter-finalist, will be back in the PDC after winning outright on day four, along with the also-returning Cristo Reyes of Spain and Adam Gawlas of Czechia.
Topics: Darts
Ryan Smart