PDC World Darts semi-final: Last Waltz for Belgian 'Dancing Dimi'

Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh (PDC 15) failed to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship final on Monday night. The 28-year-old player from Antwerp nicknamed "Dancing Dimi" lost 6-0 to 33-year-old Dutchman Michael van Gerwen (PDC 3) in the semi-final at London's Alexandra Palace.

Dimitri Van den Bergh was the first Belgian ever to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, a tournament his opponent Van Gerwen has already won three times in 2014, 2017 and 2019. He was no match for an unstoppable Van Gerwen, however, who dominated the semi-final from start to finish. "Mighty Mike" van Gerwen (PDC-3) recorded two 11-darters and a 13-darter which translated into an average of 128.3 per three darts.

On Tuesday night, Van Gerwen will take on Englishman Michael Smith (PDC 4) in the final. Smith defeated German Gabriel Clemens (PDC 25) 6-2 in the semi-final. Van Gerwen and Smith previously faced each other in the final in 2019. At that time, the Dutchman won 7-3. 

^{Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh during the quarter-finals of the Betfred World Matchplay, in Blackpool © LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC}