Aspinall confident ahead of Masters debut: "I'll be looking to prove why I'm world number eight"

Aspinall has endured a meteoric rise up until now and as a result will play in the event for the top 16 players in the world for the first time.

He said ahead of the tournament that he is looking to prove he belongs in the world's elite players and that he is confident ahead of playing at the Marshall Arena.

"I'm going into this tournament as one of the favourites to win it so you have to take confidence from that," said Aspinall.

"All year I've been going into tournaments as quite a high seed so I take confidence from that and believe in myself so I'll be looking to prove why I'm world number eight.

"I was really happy with how the World Championship went, I came through some really tight games.

"I was a bit disappointed with my performance against Michael [van Gerwen], I think he was there for the taking that night but maybe nerves got the better of me and that's something I'm trying to put right.

"I proved to any doubters out there that I do belong among the elite players and last year wasn't a one-off."