Darts results: Dimitri Van den Bergh beats Peter Wright 16-14 to reach World Matchplay semi-finals

By Sporting Life

22:12 · FRI July 22, 2022

Dimitri Van den Bergh overcame defending champion Peter Wright 16-14 in a World Matchplay epic to reach the semi-finals in Blackpool.

Van den Bergh, who lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy in 2020 and then finished runner-up to Snakebite 12 months ago, trailed 5-1 early on before remarkably stringing 10 legs together on the trot to move into a commanding 11-5 lead.

Snakebite, with the help of a trademark change of darts, produced a stirring rally of his own to edge 13-12 ahead and even spurned two darts for a 14-12 advantage before the Belgian restored parity.

Van den Bergh went on to hold throw for a 15-14 advantage and in the next leg followed up back-to-back visits of 140 and 177 with a pressure finish of 44 to earn his spot in the last four.

The 28-year-old averaged 102.01 compared to his opponent's 99.42 and fired in 11 of the 19 180s while Snakebite made all four of the 100+ checkouts.

Van den Bergh and Wright have a usually tight relationship due to the time he spent lodging with the two-time world champion in 2020 but there was a frosty handshake at the end of the contest.

The former World Youth champion spoke about it in this video below.

Dimitri Van den Bergh responds to Peter Wright's frosty handshake and also has words about Snakebite's constant changing of darts... pic.twitter.com/LNX61mgzfE
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 21, 2022

🔟🤯 Dimitri Van den Bergh won TEN legs in a row against defending World Matchplay champion Peter Wright to lead 11-5.

👏 But he then survived a tremendous comeback before clinching a thriller 16-14! Wow.pic.twitter.com/BcHnEoWS8v
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 21, 2022

“I’ve learned to dig deep, I’ve learned to never give up and believe in my own ability,” said Van den Bergh, who has now won 12 of his 13 games at this event.

“I’m working hard and doing everything I can to chase my dreams and create a beautiful future for my family.

“When I was 4-1 down, I felt it was a repeat of last year’s final, but I wasn’t playing badly, and I managed to stay positive.

“I’m in the semi-finals! There is no pleasure beach, this is Dimitri Van den Bergh’s dreamland, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.”

Van den Bergh will next play Michael van Gerwen, who had to survive a gutsy comeback from Nathan Aspinall before prevailing 16-14 in another Winter Gardens cracker.

MVG was in cruise control at 11-4 up as the crowd favourite struggled to get going but suddenly started to make a game of it with an inspired run that included four 100+ checkouts, including a roof raising 164 finish that cut the deficit to 14-10.

Van Gerwen moved to within one leg of victory at 15-11 only for Aspinall to keep digging in by winning three on the trot.

The crowed jeered the two-time champion's attempts to get himself over the line but they had no answer to a tremendous 146 checkout that completed a match-winning 12-darter.

👏 What a tremendous finish to an incredible night at the World Matchplay.

👌 With the crowd on his back, Michael van Gerwen produces a 146 checkout to defy Nathan Aspinall's stirring comeback.@MvG180 pic.twitter.com/CPHsLtCptv
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 21, 2022

“I was 11-4 up, I was in cruise control and I was playing really well, but Nathan never gives up,” reflected the world number four.

“The crowd were on his side as well, and I made it so difficult for myself. I shouldn’t put myself in that position.

“You have to give Nathan credit for putting me under pressure, and it gives me a great boost to come through games like this.

“Dimitri deserves to be in the semi-finals, and if I want to beat him, I have to play really well. It’s going to be tough, but I’m looking forward to it.”