Latest news with #DimitriVandenBergh
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Top darts star reveals tactic to deal with opponents FARTING on stage after player's blow-off caused match to be stopped
DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH has revealed how to deal with FARTING opponents when at the oche. The darts star spoke about the issue following another "fartgate" incident involving James Wade at the Players Championship 19. 2 Wade let rip during his 6-5 win over Peter Wright to reach the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Snakebite appeared distracted when the scent hit his nose, as he had to "take a second" before throwing. Van den Bergh, 30, is already prepared to deal with his rivals who dare to let one rip on the stage. The Belgian ace believes the best thing to do is to try to ignore it and "breathe quicker". He told talkSPORT: "I hate that. I make sure whatever I could do, it happened already at the toilet. "Sometimes you've just got to accept it, at the end of the day, it's only a smell. "Breathe quicker and it's gone." Wade was by world no.1 Luke Humphries. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The 2024 Ally Pally king said: "Great farts mate!! I mean 'Darts'." Van den Bergh's comments come after he decided to step away from the PDC Pro Tour. World Darts semi-finalist Dimitri Van Den Bergh retires from PDC tour aged just 30 The Antwerp thrower made the decision in April as he wanted a mental reset. He did make his return to the oche at the World Cup of Darts as he represented Belgium alongside Mike De Decker. The tournament was a disaster as the pair finished behind the Philippines in the Group Stage in Frankfurt, Germany. Van den Bergh has insisted that the time away from the oche has been beneficial to him. He said: "Fantastic, because I was feeling really bad with myself, with my body, my mental health. "(For) ten years I have done all the tournaments that I possibly could and I just kept pushing. I kept going forward. "In these ten years a lot of things have happened. I'm going to be a dad in July, my second little girl is going to come to the world. "I'm already a dad from another kid who's three-and-a-half-years-old now. "All of that just gives you a different perspective to life and my dreams have always been to do what I love most, which is play darts and be successful at it. "But I also wanted to have my own family and build a future, build a legacy. So these things were very important to me and I just tried to keep playing well but for some reason I was just tiptoeing at the same place. "So I said, 'I'll take a step back, come back stronger' and that's still my goal. That's still my mission. "I know whatever I'm doing at home with eating healthy, going to the gym, taking care of myself, practicing a lot, it's working for me. Plus, I've got extra time with the family."
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
World Cup of Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Action ON NOW as England's Luke Littler and Humphries face Germany
THE World Cup of Darts is well underway in Frankfurt as day three unfolds in this mouthwatering tournament! Defending champions England will finally be in action today, as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler take on home favourites Germany in the second round of the competition. Belgian pair Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh were BEATEN by the Philippines, as they fought back from 3-0 down to dump Belgium out 4-3. Netherlands duo Danny Nopper and Gian van Veen looked impressive again, as they dismantled Hungary 4-0, in their quest for a fifth star. just now By Craig Mahood Czechia are through to tomorrow's quarter finals! Malaysia 3-8 Czechia The Czech duo DO get over the line this time and it's a convincing result in the end. Malaysia just left themselves too much to do but Karel Sedlacek's individual display was stunning. His set-up left 32 and his partner comes in to take it out. They'll face Scotland or the Netherlands tomorrow! 5 minutes ago By Craig Mahood Malaysia 3-7 Czechia This match should be over - but it's just getting a LITTLE edgy.... Another on the board for Malaysia who make a bit of a hash of the 56 remaining when single 8 hit instead of 16. But that's followed by single 16 and then D16 and they've closed the gap to four. Czechia just struggling to get over the line so far.... 8 minutes ago By Craig Mahood Malaysia 2-7 Czechia Match darts come and go for Czechia and it's Malaysia with the break of throw to get a second leg on the board! Petr Krivka comes to the board needing 60 for the win and misses the BOARD altogether. He hits 20 and just misses D20, leaving Malaysia - who hit a 180 and were the width of the wire away from a 121 checkout - come back for D8 and pin it first time. 12 minutes ago By Craig Mahood Malaysia 1-7 Czechia Karel Sedlacek is a different class up there at the minute and another terrific check out of 66 secures a break of throw. His partner's 140 set up the 66 when it looked like Malaysia had a grip of the leg in the scoring. Sedlacek left himself one dart at D20 and pinned it. 15 minutes ago By Craig Mahood Malaysia 1-6 Czechia At the interval and it's a dominant display from Czechia so far, racing into a 6-1 lead. They've had 13 missed darts at a double and STILL averaging 88.91! They're just two legs from the quarter finals! 25 minutes ago By Kealan Hughes De Decker shares Belgium apology Mike De Decker has apologised to fans after Belgium were surprisingly knocked out of the World Cup. He said: "Well done to the Philippines! So sorry to everyone supporting us. "Felt nervous throughout that game and couldn't settle down." Today, 11:52 By Kealan Hughes Luke's sent warning by rivals German duo Ricardo Pietreczko and Martin Schindler have warned England's MBE heroes they won't be treated like royalty in Frankfurt. Schindler said: 'I think the fans are going to play a major role in that. If we are going to play against bigger nations, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Netherlands or whoever, there are so many good names in it right now. "I think this probably is the best World Cup to be in and we are very happy about the support we are getting from the fans.' Pietreczko said: 'I think it was a very funny game against both Lukes, because Luke Littler says never come back to Germany.' Today, 11:03 By Kealan Hughes Aussies fear no team Damon Heta has claimed other players are scared of Australia at the World Cup. He and Simon Whitlock have made a promising start to the tournament, winning both of their matches so far. After beating last year's finalists Austria 4-1, Heta said: 'We didn't feel any pressure — this is just a darts tournament. 'I think the other countries are more scared of us than we are of them.' Today, 10:28 By Kealan Hughes Humphries on MBE "I feel really good about it, it's obviously something that was very unexpected. "When I got the letter, I kind of couldn't believe when I opened it and it's a very proud moment. "My mum and dad are obviously incredibly proud as well. Their son's obviously getting an MBE, which is quite a feat, to be honest. "It usually happens later on in people's careers, but it's happened in mine pretty early. I feel pretty blessed, to be honest, I'm fortunate enough to get one. "My girlfriend and my son will be very, very proud, especially my son. When he grows up and understands what it means, I'm sure he'd be very, very proud." Today, 09:55 By Kealan Hughes Humphries on Littler rivalry "It's something that me and Luke have really done together. "I know he's done it on a much bigger scale, and from a younger generational part of it, but I think him having someone that can compete with him, compete against him and push him all the way, it's made it really exciting for the sport. "I think that's grown so many new fans. Everyone's talking about darts now, and I think that we're two of the pioneering parts of that. "We've changed the face of darts over the last couple of years. It's starting to become a younger man's game. It's nice to be at the forefront of that." Today, 09:16 By Kealan Hughes Littler reflects on MBE award Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have been given MBEs through their services to darts. Still only 18, Littler has shared his thoughts on the career milestone. He said: "I'm very happy for myself. I didn't think I'd ever receive one. "For myself and what I've done, it's unbelievable and for my sport. "I'm happy, my family is happy, and I can't wait to receive it. "This award that we've got, it doesn't come very often. Like we've said, we're the sixth and seventh darts players that have ever received one. "For myself, like we've said, so early in our careers, but what I've done for myself, opened up my own darts academy, seeing the younger generation come up, it's a massive boost for us two coming into the World Cup this weekend." Today, 09:00 By Craig Mahood Good morning darts fans Some huge drama last night as the group stages came to a close. Belgium were dumped out incredibly despite being 3-0 up and somehow losing their tie against the Philippines. South Africa went through without even PLAYING, all before Argentina won the final match in a decider to sneak through. And Luke Humphries and Luke Littler were last night awarded an MBE for services to darts - before being handed a tricky second round tie against hosts Germany! Here's today's draw: England vs Germany Argentina vs Australia Northern Ireland vs South Africa Switzerland vs Ireland Wales vs Philippines Hong Kong vs Sweden Scotland vs Netherlands Malaysia vs Czechia Today, 08:00 By Craig Mahood Change to the format We're now looking at longer matches now we're in knockout mode. The first to 4 has now gone - and it's now a first to 8 at this last-16 stage. Remaining format: Second Round - Best of 15 legs Quarter-Finals - Best of 15 legs Semi-Finals - Best of 15 legs Final - Best of 19 legs Today, 06:45 By Craig Mahood Darts Dollars The remaining 16 teams have already bagged themselves a share of £9,000 for reaching the last-16. Here is the breakdown of the World Cup of Darts prize money below: Winners - £80,000 Runners-up - £50,000 Semi-final losers - £30,000 Quarter-final losers - £20,000 Last 16 losers - £9,000 Second in group - £5,000 Third in group - £4,000 Total - £450,000 Today, 05:30 By Craig Mahood 'Won't click' Peter Wright reckons the Luke & Luke combination "won't click" for England. The Scot told BBC Sport Scotland: "Look at the amount of really good England teams that have been paired up and they haven't clicked, like James Wade and Phil Taylor. "Littler is a fantastic player, a worthy world champion and all the other titles he has won, fantastic, but he is going up there playing pairs. "I know he played as a youth for England, but whether he can do it in the seniors, I don't know. They might go out and bash everybody up, but I am thinking they won't click."
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Dimitri van den Bergh makes 'get out of there' admission after darts withdrawal
Dimitri Van den Bergh has opened up on the reasons behind his sudden break from darts earlier this year, having returned to the oche for the World Cup of Darts Dimitri Van den Bergh has made his return to competitive darts at the World Cup of Darts following a recent hiatus that began in April. The 30-year-old chose to step back from the sport indefinitely after suddenly pulling out of a Players Championship event just minutes before his scheduled match, later explaining that he "had to get out of there." Van den Bergh resumed play on Thursday, teaming up with Mike De Decker to represent Belgium in the tournament held in Frankfurt. The pair kicked off their campaign strongly with a 4-1 victory over Latvia in Group B, but then suffered a shock 4-3 defeat to the Philippines to finish in second place - marking Belgium's first elimination in the group stage in World Cup history. Van den Bergh's reappearance comes after a mysterious and sudden exit from the professional scene, which he attributed to both mental strain and physical exhaustion following seven demanding years on the PDC Pro Tour. He notably withdrew moments before facing Jose De Sousa during Players Championship 13 on April 14, catching fans and fellow competitors off guard. The following day, he was also absent from Players Championship 14, further fuelling speculation. In the weeks that followed, Van den Bergh went completely silent - disappearing from public view and staying away from media. He has since shared that he had hit a personal breaking point, prompting him to step back, reset mentally, and reconnect with loved ones. Speaking to HLN this week, Van den Bergh recalled: "I was in the wrong place in Rosmalen, and I had to get out of there. "I was preparing myself and no part of my body said that I was ready to play a tournament, let alone win. I let it get this far myself... but sometimes you just have to dare to take a step back to take a few steps forward. Rejuvenate well. That's what I'm fully engaged in." He also told Het Nieuwsblad: "I was in a difficult position, so I had to take a step back. That was daring. But only in this way can I possibly take several steps forward in time. I have received a lot of support since then, sometimes from surprising places. "That has been nice. There is more to life than darts, I am also sometimes told. They are right. I played all the tournaments for a very long time, but now I know I need to manage a lot more." His long-time manager, Mac Elkin, who has overseen Van den Bergh's career for 12 years and helped guide him to a UK Open title in 2024, acknowledged that the hectic tour schedule had left the Belgian star feeling "burnt out." Elkin commented: "I speak to Dimi every day and he sounds hugely positive. He has chosen to finally take a real rest. Dimi has been playing every tournament on the calendar for 10 years, and that has taken its toll. So like everyone else, he needed a break, to get away from it all. "I'm sitting here in the sun right now, recharging my batteries. Only then will I feel like doing my job again. Just ask Luke Humphries and Michael Smith what they think of the busy schedule. For both, there was a moment in their careers when they wanted to quit. "The season is so packed. And Dimi - who also has to travel often for tournaments - had to play everything because of his ranking. Then on top of that came the Premier League and the World Series. He just completely burnt himself out." In his seven previous World Cup appearances, Van den Bergh has reached the semi-final stage four times, mostly with Kim Huybrechts as his partner. He'll now have to wait until next year to go one further and book Belgium's place in the final for just the second time - and the first since 2013.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
World Cup of Darts 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Belgium CRASH OUT, Netherlands through, England's Luke Littler & Humphries wait
THE World Cup of Darts is well underway in Frankfurt as day two unfolds in this iconic tournament! Belgian pair Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh were BEATEN by the Philippines, as they fought back from 3-0 down to beat Belgium 4-3. Netherlands duo Danny Nopper and Gian van Veen looked impressive again, as they dismantled Hungary 4-0, in their quest for a fifth star. While defending champions England will have to wait until Saturday to get their campaigns underway as they are a seeded nation due to Luke Humphries and Luke Littler 's Order of Merit ranking. 12th Jun 2025, 17:10 By Laurence Ryan Double dose of Luke Teen sensation Luke Littler and Premier League winner Luke Humphries are undoubtedly the favourites. And they'll be determined to retain England's title from last year's 10-6 win against Austria. By Laurence Ryan Welcome to SunSport's coverage of the World Cup of Darts Darts lovers will have something to cheer about over the next four days as the World Cup of Darts gets underway today - and we'll be all over it! The men's England football team failed to bring it home during the Euro 2024, but Luke Humphries and Michael Smith made the nation proud in last year's World Cup of Darts. A combination of composure and superb throwing saw Cool Hand and Bully Boy beat their Austrian opponents 10-6 in an epic final. And it was a result that wrote England's name in the history books as they now hold the record for the most amount of wins in the iconic competition with five. Sadly for Smith, his world ranking positioning means he will miss out on the chance to retain back-to-back titles. However, he has a more than capable replacement of 2024 Premier League winner and teen millionaire, Luke Littler. Welsh stars Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price will pose a huge threat to England's title, and Gary Anderson and Peter Wright should also fancy themselves. But as for the Netherlands, they have suffered a massive blow to their chances with Michael van Gerwen pulling out of all upcoming tournaments due to his split with wife Daphne.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I did what I had to do' – World Darts semi-finalist retires from PDC tour aged just 30
DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH has announced he is not returning to darts full-time. The Belgian, 30, stepped away from the sport in April to focus on his mental health. Van den Bergh is a member of the Belgian squad for this weekend's World Cup Darts in Germany. Teaming up with Mike De Decker, Belgium began their campaign with a 4-1 group stage win over Latvia. But following Thursday's victory, The Dreammaker revealed he will not return to the PDC Tour. Van den Bergh said: "There was so much attention on me. I had talk show requests from Belgium, Germany, England, and Holland. "Everyone wanted interviews and I just didn't feel it was the right time to talk. "I didn't have the right perception of the whole situation. It was all too much at the time. "I stepped back to take a few steps forward and tonight proves I'm heading in the right direction. "This is me being back managing my career because full-time professional is just not good for my family." Van den Bergh indicated he will still compete in select events. He continued: I've got a second kid coming next month. "So me and my manager and my sponsors, we already know what's going to go down. "It's going to be professional in a different level, but I'm ready for it." Van den Bergh received his PDC Tour Card in 2015. The 30-year-old is currently the World No. 22, with his highest ranking No. 5 in 2021. A World Championship semi-final, Dimi has previously won the UK Open and the World Matchplay, as well as three Players Championship titles. Depression... the signs to look for and what to do Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123, jo@ CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@ or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
