VAN DEN BERGH TOLD TO STEP AWAY AS FORM CRISIS DEEPENS

DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH has the weight of the world on his shoulders and may need to step away from darts completely.

World No.36 Van den Bergh has won just ONE game on the ProTour all season and hasn’t tasted victory at a major event since the UK Open last year. 

Former pro Matt Edgar has raised serious concerns about the Belgian star’s alarming dip in form and even suggested losing his Tour Card could be the reset he needs. 

The pundit pointed to a worrying lack of consistency in results and also highlighted technical issues creeping into Dimi’s game. 

He said on Edgar TV: “I have real concerns right now. I’m looking at the averages here and 87.33 over the last 12 months. 

“That is not going to cut it or get him into a position where he has success on the tour. 

“He has nothing guaranteed — that is the issue now. He has used all his guaranteed entries into things. 

“If he wants to be in the Matchplay he is a long way off. If he wants to be in the Worlds he is a long way off.

“The rankings won’t give him anything now. So, all this defending money he has to go out there and earn it from the bottom. 

“The amount of wins that are coming through just aren’t coming through consistently enough. 

“There was a sign at the back end of last year where he reached the quarter-final of Players Championship 34. 

“You thought, is this going to be it? Then he went and lost in the Grand Slam qualifier. Then he lost in the World Championship and the last 128 in the Masters. 

“So real concerns for Dimitri Van den Bergh. I have watched him and commentated on his games. 

“The throw just doesn’t feel there. He is always looking at the dart in hand. He is struggling to get the grip and get that into position.” 

He added: “I think here the best thing for Dimitri is to potentially lose his card. 

“I look for an inspirational story at the likes of Raymond van Barneveld who stepped away and got himself back in the top 32. 

“We look at Cristo Reyes who has been away for a few years and has come back and looked better. 

“We look at the likes of Ross Smith who stepped away from the game completely and has come back a much better version of himself. 

“The thing that Dimitri Van den Bergh has still got in his favour is his age — he is still young. 

“We have a very experienced player in a young man’s body as far as darts goes. So, I think Dimitri Van den Bergh, if he came back from a year or two, it will do him the world of good. 

“Right now it just looks like the weight of the world is on his shoulders and he is defending something. 

“When you are defending something you are not aggressive, you are not attacking.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.