Dimitri Van den Bergh completed a World Series of Darts double with glory in the Viaplay Dutch Darts Masters on the weekend, seeing off home favourite Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-2 in the final.
Dimitri Van den Bergh has become only the fourth player in history to win back-to-back World Series of Darts titles, following in the footsteps of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson.
“Woo-hoo, you can add Dimitri Van den Bergh now; that’s incredible,” the Belgian told Online Darts TV.
“Thank you so much Mr Taylor. Phil Taylor, you dropped me a message after I won in Denmark. Thank you again. A player like that, a legend saying to me, ‘well done, kid’, I was like ‘wow, I’ve got a personal message off The Power, Phil Taylor’, that’s incredible, so once again, thank you. I’m part of this elite group.”
Having dropped just two legs in his first-round win over Ron Meulenkamp on Friday, the Belgian averaged almost 99 in a 6-1 quarter-final romp against Jermaine Wattimena.
Having seen off four Dutch stars in as many games at the Ziggo Dome to silence the home crowd, he added: “I didn’t only play Dirk and the class that Dirk has, but I’ve also had to play the massive support he had.
“I understand them and I respect Dirk so much. It wasn’t hard to play the opponent, I had to be so strong in my mind.”
The 27-year-old clinched his first senior PDC televised title at the 2020 World Matchplay, defeating Gary Anderson to triumph in the behind-closed-doors event in Milton Keynes.
The Belgian made it back-to-back finals on his Winter Gardens debut 12 months ago, only to be denied by an inspired Peter Wright in last year’s showpiece.
However, Van den Bergh is now eyeing a place in his third consecutive World Matchplay final, as he dreams of lifting the title at its spiritual Blackpool home.
“My dreams are coming true, the hard work is paying off. I am very proud,” added the two-time World Youth Champion.
“I already want to play the next tournament. I want to continue this form and win as much as I can.
“I really want to chase another dream of mine by lifting the trophy in Blackpool.”
Avoiding the carnage of the earlier rounds, Van den Bergh had defeated three home favourites to reach the showpiece in Ron Meulenkamp, Jermaine Wattimena and Danny Noppert.
The Belgian, who hit a top checkout of 170 in the latter, made a flying start by going out in 14, 13 and 15 darts as he opened a commanding 4-0 lead.
World number 14 Van Duijvenbode, who took out 72 to stun James Wade 7-6 in the semi-finals, stopped the rot on double nine in the next after the Dream Maker missed three darts at double 16.
But the second seed regained his authority on proceedings, clinically checking out 72 for a 14-darter before going out in 13 after nailing double 18 for 6-1.
After the Aubergenius replied, another 13-darter moved Van den Bergh to the brink of victory, which he secured with a ruthless 14-darter in the next leg.
