‘Dancing Dimi’ overwhelmed when he hears how many Belgians saw him win on VTM 4: “It gives me goosebumps” | More Sport

At peak time, last night around 11 p.m., 212,000 people on VTM 4 saw how Van den Bergh beat his Singaporean opponent Paul Lim in the second round of the World Cup. Viewing figures that some football matches do not even achieve. Throughout the broadcast there were an average of 95,000 viewers, but there was a serious peak for Dancing Dimi’s party.

“That is 117,000 people more than average? That is not normal. An enormous amount. That gives me goosebumps. I am blown away. Most important is happening, huh. For years I dreamed of seeing darts in Belgium. I have always hoped to help create that. Ultimately, Kim (Huybrechts, ed.) And I succeed now. I am happy with that. I hope that we can help other Belgian darts players in this way. That we can attract sponsors and move more Belgian darts players into the PDC, because there is really a lot of talent around. I hope that we can also give people a different view of darts and encourage them to play darts. ”

Van den Bergh, who is seen as an outsider for the world title, strengthened his candidacy last night. It went smoothly. He showed no mercy with living legend Paul Lim (66). And whether he was happy with it. “I had absolutely not expected this performance. But it was the way to push through. Lim has already proven, like in the first round, that you shouldn’t give him any chance and so I’m glad I didn’t. ”

Van den Bergh almost played the perfect match, but something else besides that brilliant performance stood out: a brace around the right knee. Even the usual dances for the walk-on went a little less smoothly. “I have to be really careful with my knee. Still, I try to entertain the people at home a bit (laughs). ” The brace and knee injury seem new, although they are not at all. “Three years ago I played with Kim Huybrechts and Mike De Decker in an indoor football team. That way we continued to exercise enough. Until I sustained an injury in my right knee there. ”

In the end, Van den Bergh was not too much of a nuisance, until the situation escalated last summer during an amusement park visit. “When I walked up a flight of stairs there, my knee ‘clicked out’. That hurt a lot. At first, the park’s medical help was able to ‘click it back in’ and I was able to walk around carefully again, but after a while that was no longer tenable. Panic struck in that amusement park, I was naturally thinking about my career. ” That same evening Van den Bergh headed for speed. “My anterior cruciate ligaments in the right knee appeared to be torn, several ligaments were inflamed and the meniscus was also affected.”

Five days after the incident, Van den Bergh was already operated on. A piece of meniscus was removed and since then the brace with Velcro has been used to replace the anterior cruciate ligaments. Still, a ‘real’ knee surgery is inevitable. “The overcrowded calendar will determine when it can continue. It could be as early as January, but it depends on the next main tournament. I need at least four weeks to recover after the necessary surgery. The surgery could therefore just as easily be in February or March. I am a professional and have learned to deal with the situation. I feel good and have no pain. ”

Fortunately, no problems with that knee at all, so. Did we see the best Dimitri Van den Bergh yesterday? “My level can certainly be raised. At times I lost too much focus against Lim. Although I don’t care how I throw, as long as I win every match. ” To eventually become world champion on January 3? “With the way I played today, I showed the other favorites that I am competing for the world title. And who knows, even a Belgian final is possible. It would take a lot of work, but with the level that Kim (Huybrechts, ed.) And I currently achieve, I think that is certainly feasible. ”

First the third round follows for both men. The Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena may be waiting for Van den Bergh, who will face Welshman Nick Kenny today. Wattimena is no stranger to him: the two are good friends, train together in the same hotel and have the same manager. “Jermaine and I have no secrets from each other. We support each other at every tournament. He is a very talented darter, but has not been able to show it that often. I certainly do not underestimate Jermaine. ”

But now first enjoy the Christmas season. Van den Bergh will be back in action on Sunday at the earliest. Although the known corona rules will also make it a special year-end for him in his London hotel room. “We have to deal with the situation as it is. I have my ‘lady’ and manager with me and that is the most important. The hotel’s chef may even prepare a real Christmas meal for us to eat in the room (laughs). We will certainly also make video calls with the rest of the family, which I will see again after the New Year. ” With a gold medal as a late New Year’s gift? ‘The Dream Maker’ is chasing his dream, with a knee brace, more than ever.