PICTURES: Premier League darts takes Aberdeen by storm as Belgian Dimitri Van Den Bergh takes home maiden title

By Jonathan Clark

Published: 19:14, 19 May 2023

| Updated: 20:03, 19 May 2023

Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

DARTS fans flocked to Aberdeen's P+J Live as the city played host to a decisive week of Premier League darts on Thursday night.

A crowd of more than 7000 witnessed a thrilling evening of darts – with 16/1 outsider Dimitri Van den Bergh coming out on top.

Elgin trio (from left) Stuart Forsyth, Mark Wood and Andy Spence enjoy their night at the darts. ..Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Ryan Stuart and Ryan Johnston dressed up for the occasion and for Ryan Johnston's stag do. ..Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

With world number one Michael Smith, number three Michael Van Gerwen and number four Gerwyn Price already qualified for finals night in London, the drama on the night surrounded who was finishing fourth in the table.

Nathan Aspinall, who started the night fifth, thrashed Jonny Clayton 6-1, but failed to leapfrog the fourth-placed player in the table after going down 6-3 to Price in the semi-final.

Fans were left disappointed when Van Gerwen pulled out of his semi-final clash with Van den Bergh with a shoulder injury, seeing the Belgian into the final to take on Price.

From left; Harry Bruce, Scott Murdoch, David Walker, Craig Fraser and Sean Thomson. ..Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

James Leslie, Owen Loveland and mates enjoy the night out...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

'Dancing Dimi' was the rank outsider on the night, but beat favourite Price 6-5 in a shock result – providing him with his maiden Premier League night win. It was just his second final – with the first having come in Glasgow.

Dimitri Van den Bergh celebrates his win. ..Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

"My first final against Michael Smith was in Glasgow and we are back in Scotland, in Aberdeen, and I've got to the final again, but this time I've got a W behind my back," he said.

"I've got to say, if I'm in the Premier League again, make sure there are four nights (in Scotland) at least, so I'm in the running!"

Fans inside the arena were clearly in support of Van den Bergh in the final against Welshman Gerwyn Price, who at one point reacted to whistles heard from the floor.

Van den Bergh added: "Scottish people love the darts and if there is a Scottish player in there then they back the Scottish player. It's a proud nation, very simple, no doubt about it.

Peter Wright in action...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

"They also let everybody know they have got their favourites and that they don't like people – but that's the same anywhere else.

"For some reason, they have loved me, I've got to say thank you so much, I've tried, I've given my all, I'm your Aberdeen champion – wow, what a win, I'm very happy!"