'When Dimi puts on that Belgian shirt he turns into something special' - Expect the best of returning Van den Bergh at World Cup says manager Mac Elkin

This Thursday, the 2025 World Cup of Darts gets underway in Germany. One of the most intriguing stories to follow at this year's edition is the return to action of Dimitri van den Bergh, who has recently had a break from the sport due to his mental health.

Having initially started pulling out of tournaments back in April, there was some talk Van den Bergh might also have skipped the World Cup. According to the Belgian's long-time manager Mac Elkin however, Van den Bergh is refreshed, refocused and raring to get back into the action on the big stage. “I talk to Dimi every day, and he sounds incredibly positive,” said Elkin, head of The Sportsman Management Company, in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad.
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Elkin also shares more information on the reasoning behind Van den Bergh's sudden absence from the PDC circuit. “He finally decided to really take some time off. Dimi has played every tournament on the calendar for ten straight years, and that takes a toll. Like anyone, he needed a break — time away from everything," Elkin explains. "Ask Luke Humphries or Michael Smith what they think of the packed schedule — both of them reached a point where they wanted to quit. The season is just overloaded. And for Dimi — who often travels long distances for events — his ranking meant he had to play everything. Then came the Premier League, the World Series... He just completely burned out.”

“Sure, it was a bit concerning at first, but in the end, this was the perfect year to take a break,” Elkin continues, refencing the fact that Van den Bergh has slid well down in the Order of Merit since his break began. “Dimi’s not currently part of the European Tour or the big TV tournaments, but he’s still ranked quite high globally. Okay, he’s no longer in the top 16, but still."

"Previously, he didn’t have the luxury of skipping tournaments — but this year, he could. I told him: this year, only the World Championship matters. And by recharging now, who knows what things will look like by then?" Elkin adds. "Dimi doesn’t have much prize money to defend this year, which is a huge relief. That pressure is insane."