Dimitri van den Bergh to limit PDC appearances as he feels that the calendar is too much for players to be at their best “This schedule isn’t the right way for me to play professional darts”

The Belgian darts team made an impressive start at the 2025 World Cup of Darts on Thursday night, defeating Latvia 4-1 in their opening match. The spotlight was firmly on the newly-formed Belgian duo of Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker, as they took to the oche as teammates for the first time in international competition.

While Van den Bergh is a familiar face at the World Cup and widely regarded as one of Belgium’s most prominent darts figures, this match marked a significant milestone for De Decker, who was making his World Cup debut. The 29-year-old clearly relished the moment and the strong performance.

“It’s my first year playing at this level for my country,” said De Decker after the match. “You never want to lose your debut game. I’m just glad we came out strong.” He also had high praise for his veteran partner. “Dimitri’s been out for a couple of months, and yet he comes back and performs like this. He’s always had that edge on the big stage—tonight, he showed it again.”

Indeed, Van den Bergh’s return to competitive darts was one of the most talked-about storylines heading into the tournament. The two-time major champion had taken a brief hiatus from the sport earlier this year, prompting speculation about his readiness for such a high-profile event.

Speaking after the match, the 30-year-old Belgian opened up about his break and the emotional lead-up to the tournament. “Honestly, the nerves kicked in a couple of weeks ago,” Van den Bergh admitted with a smile. “There was a lot of pressure, a lot of media attention. I had interviews requested from Belgium, Germany, England, and the Netherlands. It just felt overwhelming.”

Van den Bergh explained that the decision to take time off was deeply personal, and while it raised eyebrows in the darts community, it ultimately proved to be the right move for his well-being and performance. “I didn’t want to go into all those interviews at the time because I was still processing everything,” he said. “I needed space to refocus. A few people close to me had their doubts—even Mike, and that’s okay. But I told him I made the right choice for myself.”

That preparation—and his trust in the process—clearly paid off in Frankfurt. Despite limited tournament play since mid-May, Van den Bergh looked sharp and focused, crediting his inner circle and the wider darts community for their unwavering support. “People have been so kind—my friends, my family, my sponsors. Their encouragement really gave me the strength to step back and then step forward again. Tonight’s performance is proof of that.”

Dimitri van den Bergh to limit PDC appearances as he feels that the calendar is too much for players to be at their best

However, fans hoping to see Van den Bergh return to a full-time professional schedule may be disappointed. The former World Matchplay champion made it clear that a reduced playing schedule is part of a broader plan to balance his sporting ambitions with personal priorities.

“This doesn’t mean I’m going full tilt back into the grind of the PDC circuit,” he clarified. “Being a full-time pro just doesn’t work for my family right now. We’ve got another baby on the way next month, and my priorities have shifted.”

He added, “My manager and sponsors understand that. We’ve built a new strategy that still allows me to play at a high level but on my terms. I’d rather give 100% to a few events than 20% to everything.”

“I love to practice, reset, then come back strong. But now, it’s just tournament after tournament,” he concludes. “So thank you to the PDC for all the opportunities, but this schedule isn’t the right way for me to play professional darts.”

The Belgian team’s victory over Latvia has certainly set a positive tone for the rest of the tournament. As the newly paired teammates continue to develop their chemistry, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how far this new chapter in Belgian darts can go.

With both experience and hunger on their side, Van den Bergh and De Decker could become a formidable force—not just in this year’s World Cup, but in the international darts scene going forward.