Darts is a game fraught with danger - as Mervyn King found out nearly to his cost at the Embassy World Championship in Frimley Green this week.

Merv 'The Swerve' was forced to battle through the pain barrier during his first round clash against Australia's Russell Stewart.

The 35-year-old twisted his left knee while retrieving his darts from the board at the end of the first set.

Fortunately, it was a story of triumph over adversity as Merv overcame the agony to beat his opponent and book a place in the next round.

The mental intensity of darts is well-documented but, to the casual observer, the physical dangers often just means ducking the occasional stray arrow.

This is not the case, according to many on the inside.

Flamboyant darts legend Bobby George was only too quick to offer his sympathy to Merv and point out the challenges that face today's players.

"It happens to the best of us. I suffered from it once," George told BBC Sport Online.

"You see, darts can be a tiring sport because you're on your feet all the time.

"And if you have size 14 feet you have to turn them sideways to get in closer - and that's not really a natural way to stand."

Clearly, standing at the oche can be a gruelling work-out and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

As legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell once said of a player: "Under that heart of stone beat muscles of pure flint."

Of course, cynics might say that the only exercise that darts players get is lifting a pint glass to their mouth.