Aspinall ends major title wait in ruthless win over Clayton in 2023 World Matchplay Final

Nathan Aspinall has won the 30th edition of the World Matchplay. 'The Asp' was too strong for Jonny Clayton in the final of the prestigious tournament in Blackpool.

A truly ruthless display from the Stockport ace to win 18-6 winning 10/11 legs in a row from 5-5.

For Aspinall, it is his second major title. He won the UK Open in 2019, and has since lost the finals of the Premier League Darts (2020), World Grand Prix (2022) and Grand Slam of Darts (2022). Aspinall did win the US Darts Masters in 2019, but that event does not count as a major.

That obviously does apply to the World Matchplay, which, with a total prize pool of £800,000, is the biggest ranking tournament of the year at the PDC after the World Darts Championship.

Aspinall reached the World Matchplay final after wins over Krzysztof Ratajski (10-7), Danny Noppert (11-9), Chris Dobey (16-12) and Joe Cullen (17-9).

Opponent Clayton had beaten Gabriel Clemens (10-8), Dimitri van den Bergh (11-6), Ryan Searle (16-12) and Luke Humphries (17-15).

In the final match, Aspinall went into the first break with a 3-2 lead after Clayon missed three break chances in the fifth leg. 'The Asp' broke his Welsh opponent in the sixth leg with a 108 finish, but with a 141 check-out and a 12-darter, 'The Ferret' came back to 4-4.

Aspinall then threw another 108 check-out, but a 101 finish from Clayton made it 5-5 at the second break. The third session then proved decisive as it went 5-0 to Aspinall.

The Stockport-based darter threw an 11-darter and a 12-darter, among others, to run out to a 10-5 lead. After the break, Aspinall ran out further and further. He hit a 170 and 115 to make it 13-5.

He missed 121 and such was the dominance, he was annoyed at himself but Clayton's rot couldn't be stopped and Aspinall returned for 15-5.

Aspinall made it 16-5 on double 16. After 11 straight legs, Clayton stopped the rot but it was a mere hold and Aspinall went one away.

Aspinall missed three match darts but Clayton missed three to stay in it and the former sealed it.