Dimitri Van den Bergh has explained his decision to step away from the PDC Tour – and why he won’t be returning on a full-time basis.
The Belgian darts star competed alongside Mike De Decker at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt.
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It is his first competitive action since Players Championship 13 on April 14.
His withdrawal from the following PDC ProTour event the next day to focus on his mental health began a two-month hiatus for the 30-year-old.
Van den Bergh and De Decker saw off Latvia in their opening group stage match on Thursday as the sixth seeds made a winning start.
However, the two-time PDC major winner shut down talk of a full-time return to the oche after the 4-1 triumph.
He told reporters: “This doesn’t mean I’m going full tilt back into the grind of the PDC circuit.
“Being a full-time pro just doesn’t work for my family right now. We’ve got another baby on the way next month, and my priorities have shifted.”
The world number 22 continued: “My manager and sponsors understand that.
“We’ve built a new strategy that still allows me to play at a high level but on my terms. I’d rather give 100 per cent to a few events than 20% to everything.
“I love to practice, reset, then come back strong. But now, it’s just tournament after tournament.
“So thank you to the PDC for all the opportunities, but this schedule isn’t the right way for me to play professional darts.”
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Van den Bergh has previously picked up major wins at both the World Matchplay and UK Open.
The Dreammaker has now appeared in eight World Cup of Darts, where he has reached the semi-finals four times.
But in a blow for Van den Bergh and De Decker, they have failed to make it to the second round – despite their win over Latvia.
The duo lost 4-3 to the Philippines in their final group fixture on Friday night at the Eissporthalle.
The Belgian duo were leading 3-0 up, but ended up losing the next four sets.
They had even missed seven match darts with the Philippines pulling off one of the biggest World Cup shocks in recent memory.
The 12 group winners join the top four seeds England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the knockout stage.
A place in the last-16 guarantees each team £9,000 in prize money, with £80,000 available to the winning duo.
Defending champions England are the favourites, with a partnership of world number one and two Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
A victory for the pair would extend England’s record tally of wins to six.