"Even if I’m 60 and I’m still playing": Nathan Aspinall won't stop until he achieves World Darts Championship glory

After the roughest patch of his career, Nathan Aspinall is back in a good headspace and ready to attack the PDC World Darts Championship which begins December 15 at the Alexandra Palace.

Aspinall won the World Matchplay this year in the ultimate darting feel good story with 'The Asp' who is already a fans' favourite having a career threatening wrist problem and issues with his throw. But despite not playing his best since winning in Blackpool, he is ready for the task.

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“I’m in the best headspace I’ve ever been in,” said Aspinall.

“I won the second biggest tournament in the world, and I didn’t even feel like I played that well! I’m provisionally world number four going into 2024, and now I’m thinking: ‘How good can I actually be at this game?’

“I know I have so many more gears to go through, but the only way I’m going to get to that level is by working harder than I ever have before.”

'I couldn't throw my dart' - Aspinall

He cited struggling to even throw a dart earlier in the year and how he took steps to put it right which paid off.

“The start of this year was so much harder than my injury. It was a different scale,” revealed the Stockport star. "In the Premier League, I was 4-0 up against Peter [Wright] in Brighton and I was playing unreal darts.

“All of a sudden, I couldn’t throw my dart and I lost 6-4. That was the lowest point of my career. The day after that I got on four trains to Tottenham to speak to a sports psychologist, and six days later I was in Rotterdam playing Michael [van Gerwen], with 12,000 fans against me!

“It was probably the worst situation I could have been in, but I went and won the night, and that shows the strength and determination that I have."

“I’m trying to push a few players that have been struggling with their game, because it’s worked absolute wonders for me,” he added.

“At the end of the day we are human beings. We’re not robots. Every other sport has sports psychologists, hypnosis, therapists, so why does darts have to be different?

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“You’re on that stage on your own, and if you’re struggling, you’ve got to find something. I think mentally, it’s one of the toughest sports in the world.”

But the mission is now clear this year, with the World Championship in sight but it doesn't only stretch to this edition with Aspinall determined to win it one day.

“If I was to win the World Championship, I think it would be one of the greatest wins in darts," concluded Aspinall.

“I’ve had the injury, problems with my throw, and the knockbacks, but there is no reason why I can’t pick that trophy up this year. It will happen. Whether it’s this year, next year, or the year after, it will happen. Even if I’m 60 and I’m still playing, I will be here until I win the World Championship!”

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