Dimitri Van den Bergh offered a rare sign of life at Players Championship 17, winning his board for the first time in 2026. The former World Matchplay and UK Open champion, who has endured an alarming slide in form, put together a mini-run that has been missing too often this year.
Van den Bergh came through a tough section of the draw, beating James Wade, Daryl Gurney and Tommy Lishman to reach the last 16. His run ended there against eventual finalist Jermaine Wattimena, but the Belgian had at least found a way through the early chaos of a ProTour day.
For many top names, that would be routine. For Van den Bergh right now, it represents something to cling to. His 2025 season was already disrupted, including a spell away from the PDC circuit for health and wellbeing reasons. Since then, his rhythm has been difficult to rebuild, major qualification has become less secure, and 2026 has brought further pressure rather than any immediate reset.
PC17 does not prove Van den Bergh is back. It does, however, show he is still capable of piecing wins together on a day where the margins are brutal and the draw gives nobody time to settle. The next challenge is obvious: a season-first spark only becomes truly valuable if it turns into something repeatable. But after months of questions around form, ranking pressure and momentum, Van den Bergh has at least offered a reminder that his slide may not yet be terminal.
