Van den Bergh balks at quick exit at Belgian Darts Open: "Gave everything but it wasn't enough"

Sadly for Dimitri Van den Bergh, success in front of his compatriots at the Belgian Darts Open was not on the cards this weekend as Michael Smith sent the Dreammaker packing.

"I am very disappointed, " Van den Bergh said following Smith's 6-2 defeat. “I'm standing here in a sweat and the crowd support has been great again, but I'm starting by trailing 4-0 against the world champion. Then you know it's going to be tough. I kept fighting and kept believing. You know everyone always misses something, but Michael missed little. At one point, I looked at the screen and saw that I was throwing 80 on average. Yes, bizarre... That's not even good for 18 arrows to win a leg. So be it. I gave everything.”

Read also

Schedule and preview Sunday afternoon session 2023 Belgian Darts Open including Van Gerwen, Cross-Anderson and Chisnall-Rock

By the end of the match, Van den Bergh had raised his average to 94 although it wasn't nearly enough to push the reigning world champion and world number one, Michael Smith who now takes on Gabriel Clemens in the next round.

Read also

Tournament Centre 2023 Belgian Darts Open: Schedule of play, results, TV Guide and prize money breakdown