World Matchplay darts: Leg-by-leg report as Dimitri van den Bergh beat Gary Anderson 18-10 to win the title

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DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH IS THE WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION

Dimitri van den Bergh has done it! The Belgian superstar, who was 200/1 at the start of the tournament, realises his debut dreams at the World Matchplay to win his first ever senior PDC title in his maiden major final.

It's a history making feat from the fittingly nicknamed DreamMaker, who is the first debutant to lift the trophy since the tournament was first staged in 1994 and just the 10th different player to get his hands on it.

Van den Bergh put a struggling Gary Anderson to the sword with an average of 98 despite only hitting three of the four 180s in the match while his stunning checkouts of 170, 132, 124 and 121 at key moments underpinned a career-changing week for him at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

• Leg 20
  The Belgian, who was 200/1 with some bookies before this tournament, hits the second 180 of the match and follows it up with scores of 140 and 134 before a 47 checkout completes a fine 11-darter. He'll surely win from him?
  Anderson 8-12 Van den Bergh
• Leg 19
  Van den Bergh holds throw with a steady 18-darter as Anderson waited on 82 to try and claw a break back.
  Anderson 8-11 Van den Bergh
• Leg 18
  Even when Anderson does win a leg, it's very rarely convincing at the moment, but at the moment he'll take anything he can get, including this 18-darter.
  Anderson 8-10 Van den Bergh
• Leg 17
  The two-time World Youth champion is taking a firm grip on this contest now as a clinical finish from 64 following back-to-back visits of 137 and 134 extends his lead to three legs. Anderson was back on 115 and he's still yet to hit a 180.
  Anderson 7-10 Van den Bergh

• Leg 10
  Nothing between these players at the second interval after an improving Flying Scotsman cranks up his standards with a 14-darter that included three scores of over 100 and another of 91.
  Anderson 5-5 Van den Bergh
• Leg Nine
  Finally some darts bordering on sparkling as Van den Bergh follows up two opening visits of 140 with another of 100 before finishing off his 12-darter with a lovely 121 checkout.
  Anderson 4-5 Van den Bergh

• Leg Five
  Scenes to make all pub players feel better about their game as Anderson throws three treble 5s from 157! He came returned to the oche but couldn't finish the remaining 112, as the Belgian star held with an 18-darter.
  Anderson 2-3 Van den Bergh
• Leg Four
  The Flying Scotsman blew a golden opportunity to open up a two-leg cushion. After missing a dart at double eight for a 124 checkout, he busted his score at the next visit when landing into the 18 bed, and the two-time World Youth champion punished him to restore parity.
  Anderson 2-2 Van den Bergh
• Leg Three
  Anderson raises his game by starting the leg with a 140 and ending it with a fine 80 checkout to break the throw of Van den Bergh, who had left 50 after a visit of 137.
  Anderson 2-1 Van den Bergh

• Leg Two
  A little better as we finally see some 100+ visits and a 140 from Anderson helps him on his way to a match-levelling 17-darter.
  Anderson 1-1 Van den Bergh

• Leg One (Dimitri Van den Bergh to throw first)
  A sloppy start to this final from both players as neither manage a score of over 100 before Van den Bergh takes out 60 for a nerve settling 20-darter.
  Anderson 0-1 Van den Bergh

2040: The players are now both out on the stage so let's get this final under way!

2035: First blood to the youngster as Dimitri van den Bergh wins the bull and will throw first very shortly.

2015: The action takes place in about 20 minutes so I'll give you time to digest everything below and grab a long drink while we wait for the walk-ons.

2010: So where should the money be going? As you'll probably by now, some bookies had priced Van den Bergh up at 200/1 before a dart was thrown and we're all kicking ourselves about that now unless you had outstanding foresight. In hindsight it all makes sense. He already had a good track record in majors having reached four major quarter-final runs, including the the most recent World Championship and UK Open, and the televised World Series final in Germany that we mentioned earlier. Put that together with the fact he spent three months of lockdown in Peter Wright's house then no wonder he's taken his potential to the next level. As much as I admire Anderson and obviously know what he's capable of, I am favouring a minor upset.

I go into more detail in my separate betting preview for the final, but if you haven't got time to read that now (click here if you do and scroll near the bottom), here are my tips which you can back with .

• Dimitri Van den Bergh to win the match, score over 7.5 180s and checkout over 107.5 at 5/2
• Over 31.5 Legs at evens
• Match to have over 31.5 legs, highest checkout to be over 140.5 and over 18.5 total 180s at 4/1

2005: Putting all those stats together from their routes to the final further down, here are their overall tournament stats. As you can see for yourself, Van den Bergh holds the statistical advantage and I think it goes without saying that he's been far happier with his performances than the Flying Scotsman. Will the trend continue tonight or will experience of major finals make these numbers largely irrelevant?

GARY ANDERSON

• Tournament Average: 95.75
• 180s: 27
• Checkout percentage: 37.50% (55/147)
• 100+ checkouts: FIVE: 128, 127, 120, 116, 112
• Legs won/lost: 55/42

DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH

• Tournament Average: 97.76
• 180s: 29
• Checkout percentage: 38.30% (54/141)
• 100+ checkouts: EIGHT: 164, 156, 138, 118, 105, 104, 104, 103
• Legs won/lost: 54/41

2000: Now here's Dimitri's route to the final...

• Rd 1: 10-5 Nathan Aspinall
  Average: 98.42
  180s: 4
  Doubles: 10/24 (41.67%)
  100+ Checkouts: 156, 103
• Rd 2: 11-9 Joe Cullen
  Average: 93.19
  180s: 5
  Doubles: 11/32 (34.38%)
  100+ Checkouts: 138, 118, 105, 104
• QF: 16-12 Adrian Lewis
  Average: 98.09
  180s: 11
  Doubles: 16/39 (41.03%)
  100+ Checkouts: 164, 104
• SF: 17-15 Glen Durrant
  Average: 98.97
  180s: 9
  Doubles: 17/46 (36.96%)
  100+ Checkouts: N/A

The Belgian's dream-making run began with a stunning first-ever win over Nathan Aspinall - which included a sublime 156 checkout that even got his opponent applauding - before showing real character to fight back from 8-5 down to defeat Joe Cullen 11-9 in a real thriller and then producing a wonderful display of front-running to keep Adrian Lewis at bay.

An array of stunning 100+ checkouts at key moments underpinned those victories but there were none of those against Glen Durrant in a gruelling showdown which looked like it was going Duzza's way after he used his trademark mental strength to edge ahead at 14-13 and 15-14 having earlier been 12-8 down. However Van den Bergh's classy late burst saw him edge it 17-15.

1955: Now time to run through their respective routes to the final, starting with Anderson...

• Rd 1: 10-5 Justin Pipe
  Average: 90.59
  180s: 2
  Doubles: 10/28 (35.71%)
  100+ Checkouts: 120, 112
• Rd 2: 11-7 James Wade
  Average: 92.91
  180s: 9
  Doubles: 11/27 (40.74%)
  100+ Checkouts: N/A
• QF: 16-12 Simon Whitlock
  Average: 98.09
  180s: 9
  Doubles: 16/51 (31.37%)
  100+ Checkouts: N/A
• SF: 18-16 Michael Smith
  Average: 97.99
  180s: 7
  Doubles: 18/41 (42.9%)
  100+ Checkouts: 128, 127, 116

Considering Gary Anderson won the only other behind-closed-doors major at the Storm Emma-affected UK Open two years ago, you'd have thought he may have adapted a little quicker than he claimed. Admittedly, the piped-in crowd and the glitzy presentation would have made the overall atmosphere unique while Justin Pipe and James Wade were hardly ideal opponents to get him going. After labouring through both, he raised his levels to beat a confident Simon Whitlock and his average would have been far better if he wasn't so flaky on his doubles. He improved on those against Michael Smith but overall he wasn't happy with his 98 average or how he let his former apprentice back into the match from a 14-9 lead. "I can’t throw me darts right, it’s driving me bonkers. I can’t throw a dart, I can’t let go. I’m chilled out but I’m expecting to do what I was doing two, three, four, five years ago and it’s getting to me now."

1950: In terms of the current ranking situation, this final is highly significant. Eighth-placed Anderson headed to Milton Keynes under the pressure of defending £115,000 of Order of Merit prize money that he won two years ago. If he wins the £150,000 top prize tonight he'll move up to seventh on £470,750. As for Van den Bergh, the runners-up cheque of £70,000 will see him saw up to a career changing high of 16th on £256,250, but victory will take him even higher to 12th on £336,250. And, of course, he'd almost certainly be in next year's Premier League line-up.

1945: Right, let's now take a look at all their head-to-head meetings...which is a grand total of two. Their most recent was during the PDC Home Tour, with Van den Bergh being thrashed 5-1 from Peter Wright's house by eventual overall runner-up Anderson but the first was in front of a record-breaking 20,000-strong crowd at the Veltins Arena, which was transformed into a "Darts Music Arena" for the 2018 German Darts Masters.

Having just thrashed Michael van Gerwen 8-3 in the quarter-finals to show us one of his earlier signs of rich potential, he again showed zero sign of stage fright by beating the Flying Scotsman 8-7 with the help of a stunning checkout in the 14th leg. He lost the final to Mensur Suljovic but hopefully we'll have more of this standard tonight...

• Overall H2H: Anderson 1-1 VDB
• Televised Meetings: 0-1
  Anderson 7-8 VDB: 2018 German Darts Masters (SF)
• Other Meetings: 1-0
  Anderson 5-1 VDB: 2020 PDC Home Tour (Last 128)

1930: Just in case Dimitri Van den Bergh fans don't mistakenly think this is a Gary Anderson blog, here's a clip I shared on social media the other day of him showing me his exhibition trick shots. Pretty impressive stuff I'm sure you'll agree and one you can practice without fears of damaging your walls. Just make sure you've got shoes on and that no kids are around.

1920: Seeing as I posted that 2018 nine-darter a bit lower down, we may as well reminisce how he went on to beat Mensur Suljovic in an unforgettable final and complete a career Triple Crown. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have achieved that feat - which also includes the world title and Premier League - but of all his successes, many darts fans will rank this as his ultimate highlight. In the longest World Matchplay final ever, he eventually won through 21-19 with an incredible average of 101.41 compared to Suljovic's even better 104.43, while the pair both plundered 14 maximums apiece. Click here to scan over my live blog from that night which includes lots of memorable clips such as when his attempt to win the match with a bullseye at 19-18 up bounced out of it!

1905: I'll share this poll again for the late comers closer to the walk-ons but what is your initial thoughts for tonight's final? Personally I think either winner would be great for the sport, with Gary Anderson flying the flag for the golden oldies and Van den Bergh representing the future. Defeat wouldn't be damaging for the Flying Scotsman's legacy or the DreamMaker's prospects, so whatever happens, there's plenty of positives to cherish. I would utter the phrase 'darts is the winner' but let's just wait and see how the final plays out before we reel out cliches like that!

1850: Interesting feel-good fact. Exactly two years ago Gary Anderson hit 'that' Winter Gardens nine-darter in his incredible quarter-final with Joe Cullen, who also fired in a 170 checkout and missed match darts - one of which due to a fly! I was fortunate enough to be present that night...but heartbreakingly missed the magic moment due to interviewing Jeffrey de Zwaan, who'd won the previous match!

It was the tournament's seventh perfect leg ever after Phil Taylor (2002 & 2014), Raymond van Barneveld (2010), John Part (2011), Wes Newton (2012) and Michael van Gerwen (2012). Anderson obviously went on to win before going onto lift the trophy for the first time.

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