Nathan Aspinall qualified for the last sixteen at the World Matchplay on Sunday night by dealing with the tough Krzysztof Ratajski in the second round.
ADVERTISEMENT
Among other things, Aspinall reached eight 180 scores in his match against Ratajski, who was still in the semifinals at this tournament in 2021. A 151 finish gave 'The Asp' a 7-4 lead before he finally put a 12-darter on the scoreboard for a 10-7 final score.
Afterwards, he was overjoyed with his victory. ''He missed so many doubles early on, we played in Poland last week. You take the rough with the smooth. We play a lot of times in Germany playing a German guy and you get loads of stick and they're playing me in Blackpool. I'm 40 minutes away so it's nice to get the support.
"I was lucky to be 3-0 up and 3-2 at the break. After that, it was a fantastic game of darts. That 151 was a fantastic shot. The pressure was swinging both ways all game. It was a good game of darts and one that I'm very lucky to get through."
Aspinall also visibly enjoyed the atmosphere at the Winter Gardens. "I know what it's like walking out in Blackpool. They absolutely love me and I love them.
"It was a fantastic atmosphere, I didn't want to get caught up in the walk-on but I couldn't help it. I thought I was in the local and on karaoke and people joining in. Blackpool is the one, it's the best atmosphere. The Matchplay is the best tournament on the calendar."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
ASPINALL GOES THROUGH! 🐍
A typically passionate display from Nathan Aspinall as he gets the better of Krzysztof Ratajski!
📺 bit.ly/WM23Live | #WMDarts R1