Dimitri Van den Bergh admits it would be ‘a dream’ to emulate some of the sport’s all-time greats by retaining the Ladbrokes UK Open title this weekend.
Van den Bergh will be one of nine former champions featuring in this year’s star-studded 160-player event, which takes place at Butlin’s Minehead Resort from February 28 to March 2.
The Belgian memorably denied world number one Luke Humphries to triumph in a gripping final 12 months ago, and he’s hoping to create another slice of history on his return to the South West.
Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen are the only players to win back-to-back UK Open titles since the tournament’s inception in 2003, and Van den Bergh is aiming to join that illustrious trio this weekend.
“That would be fantastic to have a Belgian name there,” admitted Van den Bergh, who will enter the tournament in Friday evening’s fourth round stage.
“It is one of my dreams to keep winning and keep being recognised as a major champion.
“I still have a lot of boxes to tick, but defending a major title on the senior tour would be amazing!
“I know I have a target on my back, but I like to have a fight, I like to have a battle, and I won’t back down!”
Van den Bergh boasts an impressive record in this event, having reached the quarter-finals in 2020 before succumbing to Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals two years ago.
Van Gerwen was then beaten by Andrew Gilding in a remarkable final in 2023, as the Suffolk veteran caused a huge upset to land his maiden televised crown.
The UK Open – often referred to as ‘The FA Cup of Darts’ due to the open draw format – has created some remarkable stories over the years, and Van den Bergh relishes the unpredictability it provides.
“I love the energy and the vibe around this tournament,” continued the former World Matchplay champion.
“It’s nail-biting for the players to see who you are going to draw; there are so many great clashes happening around you.
“It makes the sporting world sit up and talk about darts, especially when the draw is happening.”
Van den Bergh has enjoyed a positive start to the year, defeating Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall to reach the Winmau World Masters semi-finals in Milton Keynes.
The 30-year-old landed a magical nine-darter on his way to victory over his old adversary Van Gerwen, surviving match darts to defeat the Dutch superstar for just the second time in his career.
Following that landmark win, Van den Bergh admitted that he had been struggling with a wrist injury for the last 18 months – caused in a freak incident while lifting a coffee table.
The two-time World Youth Champion has undergone physiotherapy and shockwave therapy in a bid to return to full fitness, and he is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The injury still hasn’t completely gone, but I feel an improvement and I can work hard again on the practice board,” insisted the Belgian number one.
“When you get knocked down, it’s not about how hard you get hit, it’s about how you can get up while getting hit, and that’s what I’m taking on board.
“I feel like all the hard work I’m putting in is paying off, and that is something I thrive on.
“When you put in the time and the effort, you want to see results, you want to improve, so getting these good results and high averages, it makes the sacrifices worthwhile.”
Mentality and self-belief is a key component of Van den Bergh’s darting make-up, and following his UK Open exploits 12 months ago, he revealed he had been undergoing sports psychology.
Stephen Bunting and Aspinall have recently spoken about the positive impact sports psychology has had on their game, and Van den Bergh believes it has aided his maturity as a player.
“People have seen that I was approaching the game in different ways,” conceded the former Premier League star.
“Not many people loved it, but in that moment, I’m playing on that stage trying to build my future, and unfortunately you cannot make everybody happy.
“When I don’t win, people aren’t going to come up to me and say: ‘Unlucky Dimi, you played so well, let me pay for your bills!’ That’s not going to happen, so I have to accept it.
“I have matured in a lot of ways, and I have to thank my sports psychologist because he has given me a different perspective to the game and my approach.”