Dimitri Van den Bergh to take extended break from PDC darts to focus on health and well-being

Dimitri Van den Bergh has made the courageous decision to temporarily step away from professional darts. The Belgian star has chosen to take a break from the PDC circuit in order to focus on his health and overall well-being.

The news was confirmed by fellow player Vincent van der Voort during the Darts Draait Door podcast on Sportnieuws.nl. While the announcement may not come as a complete surprise, it certainly marks a significant moment in Van den Bergh’s career. Over the past few months, fans and pundits alike have noted that he hasn’t quite looked himself on stage. Most notably, he withdrew from a recent tournament just moments before his scheduled match against José De Sousa, leaving many puzzled.

At the time, his partner Evi posted a message via his official fan page, explaining that the decision had been made consciously and that further updates would follow when the time was right. It has now been confirmed: the break is official, and Van den Bergh will be absent from upcoming PDC events for the foreseeable future.

Van der Voort, who has expressed full support for the move, called it a brave and admirable decision. “He’s stepping back to work on his health and on himself,” said Van der Voort. “I think it’s a gutsy move. The lad’s just run out of steam. Things haven’t been going his way lately, and sometimes you need to be strong enough to say: I’m taking a step back.”

As a former pro himself, Van der Voort knows all too well how demanding life on the circuit can be. He admitted he also considered taking time out during his own career, particularly when plagued by severe back problems.

“When my back was at its worst, I thought about it seriously,” he recalled. “You look at the rankings and see yourself slipping. You’ve got your mortgage to think about, your family to support—it’s not easy to just walk away.”

Currently ranked 20th on the PDC Order of Merit, Van den Bergh is expected to slide down the rankings during his absence. Van der Voort acknowledged that this could add further pressure.

“That sort of thing brings added stress,” Van der Voort said on that topic. “There are plenty of players who just keep pushing and pushing. Dimitri’s hit that point where he’s had enough. It’s better to take a step back, reset, and then come back stronger.”