Darts results: Dimitri Van den Bergh beats Peter Wright 16-14 to reach World Matchplay semi-finals

Van den Bergh, who lifted the Phil Taylor Trophy in 2020 and then finished runner-up to Snakebite 12 months ago, trailed 5-1 early on before remarkably stringing 10 legs together on the trot to move into a commanding 11-5 lead.

Snakebite, with the help of a trademark change of darts, produced a stirring rally of his own to edge 13-12 ahead and even spurned two darts for a 14-12 advantage before the Belgian restored parity.

Van den Bergh went on to hold throw for a 15-14 advantage and in the next leg followed up back-to-back visits of 140 and 177 with a pressure finish of 44 to earn his spot in the last four.

The 28-year-old averaged 102.01 compared to his opponent's 99.42 and fired in 11 of the 19 180s while Snakebite made all four of the 100+ checkouts.

Van den Bergh and Wright have a usually tight relationship due to the time he spent lodging with the two-time world champion in 2020 but there was a frosty handshake at the end of the contest.

The former World Youth champion spoke about it in this video below.

“I’ve learned to dig deep, I’ve learned to never give up and believe in my own ability,” said Van den Bergh, who has now won 12 of his 13 games at this event.

“I’m working hard and doing everything I can to chase my dreams and create a beautiful future for my family.

“When I was 4-1 down, I felt it was a repeat of last year’s final, but I wasn’t playing badly, and I managed to stay positive.

“I’m in the semi-finals! There is no pleasure beach, this is Dimitri Van den Bergh’s dreamland, and that’s exactly how I feel right now.”

Van den Bergh will next play Michael van Gerwen, who had to survive a gutsy comeback from Nathan Aspinall before prevailing 16-14 in another Winter Gardens cracker.

MVG was in cruise control at 11-4 up as the crowd favourite struggled to get going but suddenly started to make a game of it with an inspired run that included four 100+ checkouts, including a roof raising 164 finish that cut the deficit to 14-10.

Van Gerwen moved to within one leg of victory at 15-11 only for Aspinall to keep digging in by winning three on the trot.

The crowed jeered the two-time champion's attempts to get himself over the line but they had no answer to a tremendous 146 checkout that completed a match-winning 12-darter.

“I was 11-4 up, I was in cruise control and I was playing really well, but Nathan never gives up,” reflected the world number four.

“The crowd were on his side as well, and I made it so difficult for myself. I shouldn’t put myself in that position.

“You have to give Nathan credit for putting me under pressure, and it gives me a great boost to come through games like this.

“Dimitri deserves to be in the semi-finals, and if I want to beat him, I have to play really well. It’s going to be tough, but I’m looking forward to it.”

World Matchplay: Thursday results and remaining schedule

Thursday July 21 (1900 BST)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 31 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Peter Wright 14-16 Dimitri Van den Bergh
• Michael van Gerwen 16-14 Nathan Aspinall

Friday July 22 (1900 BST)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 31 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Dirk van Duijvenbode v Danny Noppert
• Gerwyn Price v Jose de Sousa

Saturday July 23 (1900 BST)
Semi-Finals (best of 33 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Two matches

Sunday July 24 (2030 BST)
Final (best of 35 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD MATCHPLAY SCHEDULE

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