Overview
- Darren Beveridge swept Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-0 at Alexandra Palace to reach the next round on his World Championship debut.
- Van den Bergh averaged 80.64 and hit just 1 of 17 doubles for a 5.88% checkout, managing only one leg after missing all nine doubles in the opening set.
- The 31-year-old called his performance "very bad" on Instagram, saying he had no self-belief on stage, thanking fans, and vowing to keep working for a return.
- Sport1 commentators expressed worry during the match, citing struggles in scoring, finishing, and mindset.
- Belgian outlets noted that Van den Bergh, Kim Huybrechts, and Mario Vandenbogaerde have already exited, flagging concern for Belgian darts and pointing to significant prize money Van den Bergh must defend in 2026.