Dimitri Van den Bergh is certainly delivering on his World Matchplay debut. Dmitri who is nicknamed ”The Dream Maker” will take on Adrian Lewis in the quarter-finals. He’s featured in two World Championship quarter-finals, reached a World Series final and is the only player to have ever scooped multiple World Youth Championship titles. The fact that the Belgian is held in such high regard despite not making a World Matchplay appearance is a true testament.
Many a talent have delivered in-floor tournaments but underachieved when the spotlight is on. Dmitri though controverts this assumption by his results so far. He has said that he used the lockdown to develop the mental side of his game and is more confident than ever, “I tried to get my mind in the right place. I have worked well with my game and I feel stronger, I feel more consistent and I do feel that I have more confidence and belief now,” said the Belgian.
“I do worry too much about my darts. Are the points on my darts the right length? What kind of flights? What kind of grip do I want on my barrel? I talked to my Dad at some point and his reply was: ‘Look, son, you’ve done it before with these darts so what is the point of worrying about it. Just play and focus.” Dmitri said. “Instead of worrying about the darts, I just got my mind to a better position in saying: ‘You practice a lot, the movement in the arm is all there, so just believe in what you do’. Since I have done that, I’ve felt less under pressure.”
Dmitri made his competitive return at the Summer series this month and despite only winning £2,500 from 5 events, it ensured qualification here. Dmitri says the challenge would be to make qualification a recurring theme and not an anomaly.
