Smiles and scowls appeared in equal measure as players periodically filtered out of Wigan’s Robin Park arena, each expression telling its own story of how darts’ fortune had either favoured or forsaken them.
With in excess of a dozen players achieving personal best runs for the season, there were plenty who could afford a satisfied grin. And for one particularly notable name – two-time PDC major winner Dimitri Van den Bergh – his expression likely conveyed a palpable sense of relief.
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The former World Matchplay and UK Open champion has endured a torrid spell on the circuit of late, one that stretches well beyond the current campaign. Arriving in Wigan with just a solitary victory – secured in Germany at the opening Players Championship event of 2026 – confidence was understandably fragile. For a player who lifted silverware in Minehead little over two years ago, the looming threat of the relegation trapdoor now feels alarmingly real.
For now, however, the Belgian can momentarily shelve those concerns. Two hard-fought victories this afternoon – effectively trebling his tally for the year – may yet signal the embryonic stages of a resurgence. That said, his day began in all-too-familiar fashion. In his opening match, Van den Bergh found himself trailing non-tour card holder Steve Lennon 5-1. With the writing seemingly on the wall, the Antwerp man produced a spirited rally to snatch victory in a dramatic last-leg decider.
Buoyed by that long-awaited win, he followed up by overcoming former housemate Damon Heta, resisting a determined fightback from the Australian to once again prevail at the death. Unfortunately for DVDB, his run came to an end against Andrew Gilding – though not without a valiant effort. Trailing 5-1 once more, he threatened a repeat comeback, dragging himself level before Goldfinger ultimately slammed the door shut in the shoot-out leg.
Speaking of Damon Heta, his Players Championship statistics this season appear strikingly anomalous. The Australian number one has accumulated an impressive nine floor titles since emerging on the circuit in 2020. Typically, when The Heat is not going all the way, he is at least deep in contention. Yet across nine outings this season, the Perth-born thrower is yet to record a board win – a statistic few would have anticipated at the outset of the year.
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Elsewhere, Beau Greaves departed Robin Park in buoyant spirits following an outstanding afternoon. With notable scalps including Raymond van Barneveld and Jonny Clayton, the Doncaster starlet eventually bowed out with distinction in the quarter-finals to Gilding, surpassing her own record for the deepest run by a woman in a Players Championship event.
Joining Greaves in achieving career-best runs as PDC Tour Card holders were a pair of English Toms – Bissell and Sykes.
Both secured their professional status this season and progressed further than ever before, only to fall just short of the semi-finals, losing out to Conor Scutt (above) and Justin Hood respectively.
Call Up Player Show depth of Darts’ Talent
It also proved to be a commendable day amongst the call-up players, with three of the eleven beneficiaries of withdrawals reaching the board finals. Just one additional victory would have propelled Martin Dragt, Joe Hunt, or Steve Lennon into the quarter-finals. To date this season, among those elevated from the Challenge Tour, only Jack Tweddell has ventured that far.
Opportunities in the top half of the draw opened up dramatically. By the time the last 16 was reached, every seed who had started in that section had been eliminated. While it is not uncommon to see lower-ranked players make deep runs in Players Championship events, it is rare to witness such a substantial portion of the draw rendered, for want of a better term, entirely seedless.
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Finally, a mention – and a virtual round of applause – for Thomas Lovely, who, despite defeat to Luke Woodhouse, produced one of his two legs in flawless fashion. Knowing a silver pin is winging its way to you undoubtedly softens the blow of defeat.
——ENDS——
Images: PDC
