"He started experiencing boos, which was a shock for him": Dimitri van den Bergh didn't expect poor reception to 'Dancing Dimi' persona

Belgium has long been a growing force in world darts. Kim Huybrechts was the nation’s first breakthrough star, but it is Dimitri Van den Bergh who has put Belgium on the global map by lifting major PDC trophies. For Glen Durrant, who has known Van den Bergh since his teenage years, the “Dream Maker” is already a national icon.

“I went over to Belgium last year as part of a coaching academy, and let me tell you, he’s like a god over there,” Durrant recalled. “It was at Mike De Decker’s place, where Dimitri does a lot of his practising, and the quality of youth players we saw at the GDC finals recently shows the country is on the rise. There’s plenty more talent coming through.”

Van den Bergh’s name is now attached to a major event in his homeland – the Dimitri Van den Bergh Classic – while his career is still very much active. For Durrant, that reflects the legacy he has already built. “He wore the Belgian colours for a long time. He admired Kim Huybrechts so much. For me, Kim was the first real player from Belgium after Erik Clarys, but Dimitri took it to a new level. He’s inspired Mike De Decker as well. He’s a great player, and there’s more to him than what people see on TV.”

Durrant first crossed paths with Van den Bergh when the Belgian was barely into his teens. “I remember going over to the Belgium Open and then the Antwerp Open the week after – that’s Dimitri’s hometown. I played pairs with Martin Atkins, and we came up against these two kids, 13 or 14 years old: Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker. They came through the ranks together, playing BDO, then the youth system, Development Tour, and into the seniors. So I met him very early.”

The family influence was also clear. “His dad was a very good player. I think his name was Chris Van den Bergh – I remember playing him in the Lakeside Qualifiers. His dad played a big part in Dimitri’s development. Dimitri wasn’t the most naturally talented player, but he worked incredibly hard on that Rolls Royce throw he’s got now.”

That work ethic became the hallmark of Van den Bergh’s PDC rise. “Everything was structured. It was a family thing. He got management very early with Mac Elkin – the same as me – and Mac invested in him. There was always a plan. But it doesn’t always work out like that. We’ve seen young players like Jamie Lewis come through and not kick on. Dimitri did it step by step. He played almost in a meditation style. It’s irritated crowds and players, but he does everything to get the best out of himself.”

Van den Bergh’s World Championship debut is when fans first took notice. “That was when the ‘Dream Maker’ name started. People smiled, people sniggered,” Durrant said. “I remember an exhibition in Chorley for John Gwynne where Dimitri was playing. I gave him a good beating that night and never thought for a second he’d come back and beat me one day. But his progression was structured, and that debut showed what was to come.”

For Durrant, Van den Bergh’s strengths go beyond his darts. “As a person, he’s one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. He was working with sports psychologists before most people knew what that was in darts. He’s not as naturally talented as Mike De Decker or Kim Huybrechts, but he worked eight hours a day to become a Premier League player.”

On stage, however, he transforms. “He’s fierce, determined, and a wonderful match player. My first PDC final was against him and the respect he showed me at the end meant so much. He keeps his friends close – if you cross him, there are no second chances – but he has incredible determination. He’s worked on everything: his breathing, timing, mindset. He’s dragged every ounce out of himself to become a champion.”

It was the 2020 World Matchplay in Milton Keynes – played behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic – where Van den Bergh made his breakthrough. “No one really expected him to win it,” Durrant admitted. “It was a strange time. There was no crowd, so it was a mix between floor and stage darts. We saw unusual results. One player who benefited was Dimitri, beating Gary Anderson in the final.”

Ironically, the showman won his first major without an audience. “I think in his mind, with the fake crowd noise, there was a crowd there,” Durrant said. “I played him in the semi-finals, lost 17–15. He absolutely infuriated me. He was leaving it to the last second coming back on stage, sometimes not even allowed practice darts. I didn’t realise at the time, but it was premeditated – not for his benefit, but to get under my skin. He knew it was affecting me. I didn’t think he’d beat Gary Anderson in the final, but when Dimitri has a dream, he makes it real.”

That victory was historic for Belgium, though it also marked the start of a tougher crowd reception in the UK. “He can’t walk down the street in Belgium. But in the UK he also started experiencing boos, which was a shock for him. He thought everyone would love ‘Dancing Dimitri.’ But he dealt with it. He went on to the Premier League, and to win more majors.”

Van den Bergh returned to the Matchplay final in 2021, only to lose to Peter Wright. “He was proud of it. Peter was unbeatable that week. I even told him, ‘Don’t ever change those darts.’ But Dimitri was superb again, and proud to back up his first win by reaching another final.”

Later that year he represented Belgium alongside Kim Huybrechts at the World Cup – a partnership often seen as frosty. “They weren’t speaking. The managers had to step in. It looked forced, but it was box office – you couldn’t take your eyes off them. People will tell you Eric Bristow and John Lowe didn’t get on, but they were the best pair ever. You don’t have to be best mates. It was just a yin and yang thing with Dimitri and Kim, and it worked.”

In 2024, Van den Bergh surprised again, this time by winning the UK Open. “It surprised me too,” Durrant admitted. “His floor game wasn’t great, he was slipping down the rankings. But he has this knack of pulling out a big performance. That UK Open final – Luke Humphries was baffled, confused, and Dimitri was in a world of his own. He didn’t even notice the boos. It was a wonderful win for him.”

Durrant, who shared management with Van den Bergh, describes him as one of the most genuine people in the sport. “Honestly, he’s in the top five people I’ve ever met in darts. If you’re his friend, he’ll be your best friend. Only three weeks ago, me and my wife sent him a video after he’d won a match. Within 10 minutes he sent one back. That’s the kind of guy he is. He’ll do anything for you. I love Dimitri to bits, and when I see the stick he gets, I know the real person behind it.”

Looking ahead, Durrant believes the Belgian still has much more to achieve. “First, work-life balance. He’s a father, and that’s most important. Second, he’s a proven winner – only happy when he’s winning titles. He’s slipped just outside the top 16 now, which makes things tougher. But he works so hard behind the scenes. He’ll probably have to pull out another big major, but Dimitri always surprises people. I’m sure in 2025 he’ll do it again.”