"Right now I'm enjoying darts and I think everybody's seen this on the stage" - Dimitri Van den Bergh credits Sports Psychologist as helping him re-find love of darts

Dimitri Van den Bergh is into the quarterfinals of the Masters for the first time in his career. The 29-year-old Belgian stunned former world champion and world number one, Michael Smith 10-6 on Saturday night.

Van den Bergh was understandably beaming afterwards. "I have managed to win against the former world champion and that alone is incredible for me because I'm working on my mental game," reviews 'the Dreammaker' post-match. "I'm trying to push, I'm trying to win ugly and I think the last two days that's what I've been doing."

Read also

Schedule Sunday afternoon session 2024 Masters including Van Gerwen-Chisnall, Aspinall and Wright in Quarter-Final action

After a rough year in 2023, Van den Bergh is keen to start enjoying his darts again. "Last year, in the Premier League I was travelling week in and week out. Thursday you're playing then if you're lucky, two days later you're playing again. So much happening, it was so busy and my little girl was one last year, she's two now, I've basically missed half her life because I was away."

Van den Bergh also recently returned to live in Belgium. "I'm a family person so I need love, I need a lot of support, I need people who are genuine," he explains. "Right now I'm enjoying darts and I think everybody's seen this on the stage."

He also recently started working with a sports psychologist. "I am working with a professional and I think, somehow, someway it's already benefitting me."

Read also

"I'm the first man to admit that I'm struggling, let me play": Nathan Aspinall fires back after revealing vile social media abuse