Belgian Darts star Mario Vandenbogaerde Determined to Reclaim Top Form After Setbacks
Belgian darts player Mario Vandenbogaerde, currently ranked 101st in the world, recently opened up about his journey to regain his PDC Tour Card and the challenges he has faced in the past six months on the “Double Top” podcast.
Vandenbogaerde, 51, lost his Tour Card at the end of last year but immediately recaptured it at Q-School. However, the veteran darts pro has struggled to qualify for Euro Tour events this season, noting that the new requirement of winning one additional match in the qualifying tournaments has proven difficult.
“I have not yet been able to qualify for a Euro Tour this year, last year I managed to do so six times. Since this year, you have to win one more match in the qualifying tournament and that has already gone sour on me several times,” Vandenbogaerde revealed.
The darts scores and live darts scores have also not been as favorable for Vandenbogaerde at the Players Championships, as he fell into a “negative spiral” due to physical discomfort.
“Also at the Players Championships it didn’t go the way I would have liked. I didn’t feel good and was in a negative spiral for a while,” he admitted.
Vandenbogaerde, affectionately known as “Super Mario,” attributed his lesser performance levels to an ongoing back issue that requires surgery.
“I have my own business and have been working in construction for thirty years. My back is gradually playing tricks on me and surgery is necessary,” he explained.
Despite the setbacks, the 51-year-old Belgian remains determined to reclaim his top form and qualify for prestigious darts tournaments like the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship.
“I have two big goals this year and that is to qualify for the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship,” Vandenbogaerde stated.
While Vandenbogaerde acknowledges that his time at the top of the darts world may be limited, he is committed to extending his PDC career for a few more years.
“I realize I’m not going to compete in the PDC for another 10 years, but definitely want to keep my Tour Card for a few more years,” he said.
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