The tournament got a new sponsor in Leendesk for 2005 and this edition, traditionally being held in the second weekend of December, saw Mervyn King lift the famous trophy. In a tense final The King defeated Martin Adams 5-4. In the semi-finals King defeated Tony Eccles, while Martin Adams overcame Ted Hankey.
Two Dutchmen joined the last eight. Dick van Dijk had no chance against Adams (0-3), Raymond van Barneveld played a replay of the 2004 Masters final against Hankey but lost 3-2. King overcame Darryl Fitton in the quarterfinals and the last quarterfinal was played between Tony Eccles and Shaun Greatbatch, who lost against The Viper.