It is scarcely believable that Dimitri Van den Bergh had yet to make a World Matchplay appearance prior to this year, but as the Belgian prepares to take on Adrian Lewis for a place in this year's semi-finals, 'The Dream Maker' is hoping to make his debut dreams a reality.
The man dubbed 'The Dream Maker' has been touted by many as a future world champion. He's featured in two World Championship quarter-finals, reached a World Series final and is the only player to have ever scooped multiple World Youth Championship titles.
"I am still surprised that this is Dimitri Van den Bergh's debut in the event. I was doing my prep and I looked and thought, 'that cannot be right'," Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle said.
"I have looked again, then I have checked again. I was thinking, everyone must have got this wrong. He has to have played!"
Despite this satire, the genuine surprise across darting circles that Van den Bergh was yet to make a World Matchplay appearance is testament to the regard in which he is held.
So many talented prospects often thrive on the floor tournaments but struggle initially with the big-stage spotlight, yet Van den Bergh's career path controverts that assumption.
However, the 26-year-old insists he's used the lay-off to develop the mental side of his game and he told Sky Sports that he's got more self-belief than ever.
"I tried to get my mind in the right place. I have worked well with my game and I feel stronger, I feel more consistent and I do feel that I have more confidence and belief now," said the Belgian.
"I do worry too much about my darts. Are the points on my darts the right length? What kind of flights? What kind of grip do I want on my barrel?
"I talked to my Dad at some point and his reply was: 'Look son, you've done it before with these darts so what is the point of worrying about it. Just play and focus.
"Instead of worrying about the darts, I just got my mind to a better position in saying: 'You practice a lot, the movement in the arm is all there, so just believe in what you do'. Since I have done that, I've felt less under pressure."
Van den Bergh made his competitive return at the Summer Series earlier this month and despite accruing a modest £2,500 from the five events - it was sufficient to confirm his Matchplay qualification.
His performances arguably merited more in Milton Keynes, but Van den Bergh acknowledges the major test is ensuring that qualification becomes a recurring theme - not an anomaly.
"I was very consistent and I got myself qualified for the Matchplay so I did the job and I'm very proud of myself because it's the first time I've qualified for the tournament.
"Last year in October, it was the first time I qualified for the World Grand Prix. This was the only tournament I hadn't qualified for yet and that means now I've done that.
"Now it is making sure I am in all the TV tournaments every year. I'm in my highest ranking position right now, which is also something I'm very proud of.
"I do see myself going up the rankings slowly and keeping it maintained as well which is the hardest part, so I think I'm doing a good job."
The World Championship is indisputably the pinnacle of the sport, but the Matchplay is widely regarded as the most competitive major event - pitting the world's top 16 against the top-16 performing players on the Pro Tour circuit.
Van den Bergh boasts an impressive World Championship pedigree and he's enjoyed a terrific week at the Marshall Arena thus far, defeating world No 6 Nathan Aspinall and 2018 quarter-finalist Joe Cullen to reach the last eight.
He produced a dominant display to record his first career victory over Aspinall on Tuesday, before displaying remarkable brinkmanship to down 'The Rockstar', recovering from 9-5 behind to book a quarter-final showdown against Adrian Lewis.
"I'm feeling very happy. 100 per cent. At the end of the game, I was making mistakes, I wasn't feeling comfortable anymore, but I kept believing in my ability and at the end I did manage to win the game," he told Sky Sports.
"I think I will give myself even more time to settle down, even more time to relax because at the end it all went so quickly. It's all about experience and I had another experience right here. I didn't expect to win at the end but I'm happy that I pulled through.
"I love to be on the stage and again I'm in the quarter-finals and now it's time to step on and go further than the quarter-finals."
Van den Bergh has always appeared to be an old head on young shoulders, although he credits world champion Peter Wright with giving him the belief to maximise his potential.
The Belgian found sanctuary with the Wright family during lockdown as he was unable to return to Belgium and he revealed that Snakebite's words of wisdom have proved invaluable.
"Peter Wright told me the way he handles his games, the way he gets his experience and in his development, he told me a few things about the person and player he is now.
"Some stuff he told me does help and I use it to practice with in my own game. I feel it's working. Even if I am down in a game, I just keep believing in what I do and that's because of what he told me.
"It's all in the arm, it's not about how much you practice, it is more about how much you believe in your own ability and that's what I am working on right now."
Yet, while World Matchplay success occupies Van den Bergh's immediate focus, he is already setting his sights on the 2021 World Championship in December.
It is a strategy that has served him well in his previous Alexandra Palace appearances and a strong showing in the capital could hold the key in his bid to make inroads towards the world's top 16.
"It may be far ahead, but all the tournaments that I play are going to be used in preparation for the World Championship, because that is the biggest one - that's the main one. I want to be a senior world champion," he continued.
"I have shown on the Development Tour in the World Youth Championship that I am capable of winning that, now I need to step up and show that I can win the other one as well and the preparation for that tournament - mentally and physically - starts right now.
"It is six months away, but it is the one that everybody wants to win and the sooner you start preparing yourself, the stronger you will be when it starts."
"I'll just keep on doing what I do. I want to get myself into that top 16 position because I think that's where everyone wants to be and I have the belief that I can achieve this."
Some may argue that it is time for Van den Bergh to fulfil his potential and deliver on a consistent basis. He possesses considerable big-stage pedigree and can no longer be regarded as inexperienced.
However, he is closing in on a spot in the world's top 20 following his Matchplay exploits and he's now competed in every ranking major within the PDC.
By his own admission, his confidence has never been higher and with this year's tournament more wide open than ever, the time is now for 'The Dream Maker' to transform his dreams into a reality.
Live darts is back on Sky Sports, with coverage from the World Matchplay continuing every day until the final on Sunday, July 26.