"Why do I have to go through this as a top player?" - Dimitri Van den Bergh questioning himself after another disappointing performance at Belgian Darts Open

For Dimitri Van den Bergh, the Belgian Darts Open has once again turned into a major disappointment. "The Dreammaker" was eliminated in his opening match, losing 6-3 to Martin Schindler. With an average of 88.69, he was well below his usual standard. Van den Bergh is struggling with his form but is determined to turn the negative trend around quickly.

Despite the setback, Van den Bergh is focusing on the positives from the weekend. "I stood on the stage for the first time without any stress. That truly feels like a mental victory. I know I didn't play at 100% of my level, but I am working incredibly hard," Van den Bergh told Het Nieuwsblad. "People don't see the effort I put in behind the scenes to get back to this point. My results might give the wrong impression, but the most important thing is that I know what I’m doing to improve. I always give my best. Ups and downs are just part of the journey."

Currently ranked 19th in the world, Van den Bergh admits he’s going through a tough phase. "I'm in a challenging process right now," he says. "It's something I have to go through, no matter how hard it is. I’m struggling with a lack of self-confidence. After the UK Open, my heart bled. Michael Smith really made a mockery of me there. You start to question yourself, thinking, ‘Why do I have to go through this as a top player?’ because I know the effort I put in to perform. I know what I’m working on."

"It’s tough to take, straight to the chin, but it’s only through that kind of challenge that you become stronger," concludes the two-time PDC major winner hopefully. "My dad used to say it all the time: ‘If you work hard, you’ll always go through a rough patch.’ Maybe he’s right again, and this is just the phase I’m going through now."