MERVYN KING is eyeing a place in the world's top 32 to crown his first year on the PDC circuit.
King has made an impressive start to life in the Professional Darts Corporation since his switch from the BDO/WDF organisation in February.
He reached the last 16 of the Blue Square UK Open, qualified for the Las Vegas Desert Classic and was a quarter-final loser to James Wade in the Stan James World Matchplay last month.
King has already moved up to 35th in the Order of Merit, and is on course to win an automatic place in December's Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship - either as a member of the world's top 32 or as one of the best eight non-qualified players in Players Championship tournaments throughout the year.
"It's not bad," smiled King. "It could have been better, I've thrown away a lot of games really and lost some silly ones but it's not bad after six months to be inside the top 50.
"It would be nice to qualify for the World Championship by right, but if I have to go through on the Players Championship Order of Merit I'll try and do it that way."
King was left frustrated by his performance against eventual champion Wade in Blackpool, losing 16-11 after wins over 2005 champion Colin Lloyd and Andy Jenkins earlier in the competition.
"Overall the whole game wasn't very good for me but I struggled to reach the board," said King.
"The throw felt long to me, although I know it's not because I was there when they measured it. It was very frustrating, everything I went for I was surrounding but, not hitting, the target."
King defeated Colin Lloyd and Andy Jenkins to reach the last eight on his World Matchplay debut, and added: "I suppose it was a good event for me, but I look to do this and more in every tournament I enter.
"It certainly didn't surprise me that I reached the quarter-finals but I would have been looking to reach the semi-final really as I fancied my chances against James."
King is now enjoying a month's break from competitive action, but insists he will be working hard on the practice board to regain his best form for the busy autumn period.
"There's never time off in this game!" he said. "I'll practice hard and have some exhibitions in Holland in August too."