Wayne Jones qualifies for World Grand Prix

King ended his challenge at the last four stage of the German Darts Masters with a 6-4 win and they will now meet in the first round of next month's Grand Prix.

'The Wanderer' placed 32nd in the PDC Order of Merit today, after his second semi-final run in as many weeks at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen helped him maintain his position.

He said: "It was playing on my mind and that did affect my performances, I felt the pressure because I really wanted to get into the World Grand Prix."

The Wednesfield darter started his challenge on Friday night with a 6-4 win over Ross Smith, before stunning world No 2 Michael van Gerwen with a last leg 6-5 win on Saturday night.

Jones had the better of the early exchanges against van Gerwen, sharing the opening two legs - winning the first on double four before van Gerwen hit 171 to set up a 100 checkout as he levelled.

But the Dutchman was left rattled as Jones moved into a 3-1 lead, before van Gerwen hit back by taking out 106 and then levelled on double eight.

Jones edged the seventh leg, as he followed a 180 with double eight to lead 4-3. That was soon extended to 5-3, when van Gerwen missed tops to allow his opponent in on the same bed.

Jones hit another maximum in the ninth leg, but missed double 18 for the win and three further darts at double nine, as van Gerwen hit double 10 to stay in the game.

The pair traded 180s in the 10th, with Jones waiting on 40 as van Gerwen finished 85 on the bullseye to force a deciding leg, in which the No 1 seed was first to a finish, missing a dart at tops.

Jones then missed double 16 with two darts to finish on 86, but misses at double 10 and five from the Dutchman allowed him back to finish double 16 for the win.

Defeat of van Gerwen in the non-televised 'floor' events came at the third attempt this year and he went on to beat old Grand Slam rival Gary Anderson 6-4 on Sunday afternoon.

There were six ton-plus checkouts between the players but Anderson missed nine darts to level for 5-5, Jones securing victory in the next leg by scrambling home double seven.

He then whitewashed Mareno Michaels 6-0 on Sunday night, taking out 78 on double six after both had traded 180s, but King ended his challenge from there.