Dimitri Van den Bergh's difficult spell continued with a crushing 6-0 defeat to Karel Sedlacek in the opening round of the third Players Championship of the season in Wigan, England. The 31-year-old Belgian, who has been struggling for form, failed to win a single leg and had only two darts at a double throughout the match, highlighting his ongoing issues at key moments.
Van den Bergh had hoped the tournament would kickstart an upward trend after a challenging period. He withdrew just before his first match at a floor event in April, took a two-month break from competition, and then made a comeback at the World Cup of Darts where he failed to reach his previous level. His struggles persisted at the World Championship, where he fell at the first hurdle to Darren Beveridge.
After the defeat to world number 65 Sedlacek, Van den Bergh addressed fans on social media, stating: "I take strength out of the fact that I try and I also take strength out of the support that I get from all over the world." He had previously spoken candidly about the mental toll of his slump, adding: "Thank you dearly! I won't give up but it's very painful in my heart to play so bad."
