Dimitri Van den Bergh has secured his place in the World Grand Prix quarter-finals after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Dave Chisnall. The Belgian star, known as ‘The Dreammaker,’ is set to face Joe Cullen in the next round, continuing his impressive run in the tournament.
Van den Bergh, who started slowly, came back strong after losing the first set to Chisnall, the sixth seed in the tournament. With Michael van Gerwen’s early exit, the competition has opened up, offering a huge opportunity for Van den Bergh to seize the moment and make a deep run for the title.
Match Recap: A Slow Start, But a Strong Comeback
The match began with Van den Bergh struggling to find his rhythm. Chisnall capitalized on the Belgian’s poor finishing, particularly a low 20% on doubles, to claim the first set 3-1.
The Englishman looked in control early on, while Van den Bergh was clearly off his usual form. Chisnall punished every mistake, making the most of his opportunities in the first set.
However, Van den Bergh came alive in the second set. His scoring and finishing improved significantly, allowing him to dominate and win the set 3-0 without giving Chisnall a chance to reply.
Both players were averaging around 81 by this point, but neither seemed to be at their best. Nevertheless, the match was now tied at 1-1, with everything to play for.
Momentum Shift in the Third Set
The third set saw Van den Bergh build on his momentum, improving his average to around 89. Though it was a close battle, Van den Bergh managed to take control when it mattered most. Chisnall, who had been one of the tournament’s dark horses, couldn’t maintain his early dominance and began to falter, allowing Van den Bergh to take advantage.
But Chisnall wasn’t done yet. In the final set, he bounced back, producing a brilliant 12-darter to go 2-1 up, putting him in a strong position to force a deciding set. It seemed like Chisnall might take the match the distance, but Van den Bergh had other plans.
Van den Bergh’s Final Push
Despite a shaky start to the final set, Van den Bergh steadied himself and hit a crucial 72-checkout to level the score. As the pressure mounted, Van den Bergh found his form again, firing in a timely 180 that left Chisnall trailing on his throw.
With the finish line in sight, Van den Bergh missed his first opportunity to close out the match but quickly recovered. Chisnall, unable to capitalize, was left watching as Van den Bergh finally sealed the victory. It was a nervy ending, but Van den Bergh held his nerve, winning the fourth and final set and preventing the game from going to a decider.
A Big Chance for Van den Bergh
Van den Bergh’s win sets up a quarter-final clash with Joe Cullen, who also pulled off a comeback win against Daryl Gurney earlier in the tournament. The Belgian will be eager to keep his momentum going, especially now that the tournament has opened up with the exit of top seeds like Michael van Gerwen.
Should Van den Bergh get past Cullen, he will face either Mike de Decker or James Wade in the semi-finals, bringing him one step closer to his first World Grand Prix title.
The win over Chisnall wasn’t Van den Bergh’s most polished performance, but it was enough to keep him in the hunt for glory. As the tournament progresses, he’ll need to sharpen his game, but the Belgian is well-positioned to make a deep run and potentially lift the trophy.
With the field wide open, Van den Bergh has a huge opportunity to make a statement in Leicester, and he’ll be looking to build on this hard-earned victory as he heads into the quarter-finals.
