"Everyone's got stuff going on but I can't hide, I'm on TV trying to play darts": Nathan Aspinall honestly admits good World Matchplay display doesn't change off-oche issues

Nathan Aspinall averaged 105 as he took down Joe Cullen 10-5 in a repeat of their World Matchplay showdown from three years ago.

Aspinall produced an epic 167 checkout early to seize the initiative before seeing off a mid-game fightback from Cullen to underline his credentials and set up a showdown with Luke Littler. Being close friends off the oche meant that for Aspinall who also has Ross Smith and Chris Dobey in particular who perhaps he wouldn't have wanted either was the draw he ultimately didn't want.

He spoke to the media including DartsNews.com afterwards and discussed having to get himself up for a tie that in reality he didn't want.

"It was a rubbish draw for me, I didn't want to play Joe. He's the only guy on the other side that I'm really close with and I didn't really want to play. When it came up I'm like, he's playing well, Joe's playing well. But I knew I'd got the better of him over the last couple of years, certainly on the stage. But I knew I had to play well and this week is the first time this year that I've had to go, "Right, listen, big tournament, big money, big ranking points, put some hours in, stop being so lazy," said Aspinall to the media including DartsNews.com.

"I haven't done much, I'm not going to lie, I did an hour on Monday, an hour Tuesday, two hours on Friday, but the difference was unbelievable. As soon as I walked into the practice room I felt relaxed, I felt in control of my throw, the crowd were unbelievable. I put in a great performance and I'm dead happy with the win. It was great, that 167 was mega, that's when I knew I was going to play well.

"Great win, very happy and I must say Joe was fantastic at the end, he said, "You played fantastic, put in a great performance." I love him to bits and he said he's still going to be my friend."

Aspinall continued to touch upon that being asked about whether it makes him lock in more and for Aspinall it was very much the opposite.

"No, I don't want to play my mates, I don't like playing my mates. When I won it I played Joe, Dobey and Jonny, my three best mates on tour, apart from Andy Boulton, but I just didn't want to play him. I'd rather play a guy that I don't talk to.

"I said on stage before there were a lot of moments in that game where I would have given it big licks, but I toned it down because I'm playing him."

But while he has won, he spoke earlier in the month about his personal issues going on at home and how he isn't fully himself right now and said that it doesn't exactly help matters at all. But that the silver lining is that his daughter gets to go to the theme park with him tomorrow as a result.

"No, it's one game of darts, I played one great game of darts. I've still got problems going on at home with family, that doesn't change from me playing very well. On a Saturday night there's still a lot of stuff going on away from darts which I'm trying to block out as much as I can.

"It's one game of darts, ask me that on Sunday night if I win the tournament, then yeah. At the moment I'm very happy with the win, I'm very, very, very happy with the performance.

"I love it when my girls come, I also hate it when my girls come because I don't want to lose in front of them. But tonight we've won. I think Milly's very, very happy because we get to go to Pleasure Beach tomorrow now."

"I hate playing in front of them but I love playing in front of them. One performance cannot change anything, it was a great performance but back it up on Tuesday night and then my answer will be different."

He was open and honest as Luke Littler awaits about the fact that in reality if Littler averages his top level he gets beat. But that he is raring to go and isn't defeated when it comes to his tie with 'The Nuke'.

"Well I wouldn't, I'd get beat. Let's be honest with you, if he's averaging another 114 he's going to have to f***ing wipe me out. But yeah, I played well and I know Luke doesn't really watch the darts but I know his dad Anthony, he watches everything. And he'll say that Nathan's played well tonight and he'll know that.

"Listen, me and Luke are good mates, he beats me more than I beat him but I've got that crowd behind me. And I don't care, Luke Littler, whoever you are, that crowd will be roaring for me. Hopefully I can draw off the energy of the crowd on Tuesday night and produce something like that. Because if I produce something like that, bear in mind I missed quite a few doubles in that game. If they don't happen, I'm averaging under 109 myself there. So as long as I get some decent rest, we'll go Pleasure Beach tomorrow."

Asked if this is perhaps the catalyst he needs, he said that in reality it does fire him up but it won't erase what's going on at home in a year where he should be happy given he is getting married for instance and playing well, he still isn't at his best for other reasons.

"Absolutely not. But I'm trying to find that. And I can't be more open than what I've been like over the last two or three months. I did an interview with Phil and I told everyone what's been going on. Everyone's got stuff going on. Everyone's got stuff going on at home. But I can't hide, I'm on TV trying to play darts for big tournaments.

"I'm trying my best. I've not been playing in tournaments because of that reason. But that has given me a fire tonight. I loved that tonight, absolutely loved that. That's why I play this game, this is why I started this game. This is what gave me this life and the energy that I've got off that crowd tonight.

"It was a late night, we didn't walk on until after ten. The energy I got off that crowd, if I go and beat Luke on Tuesday night, that is just going to give me something. That's going to give me that belief back again. I can't predict the future, but if I beat Luke, or when I beat Luke on Tuesday, let's be positive, when I beat Luke on Tuesday, it's going to be the spark I think I needed for the last probably 12, 18 months."

With ranking pressure awaiting, Aspinall also saw the bigger picture that one good run whether jokingly or not can help him to miss time if he needs to and that he is thinking smartly about it all.

"I thought straight away, if I win this weekend, then I can miss the next four months!

"Obviously, it's a big opportunity, this is the first year where all the money's gone up. Straight away, I think I'm £7,500 up now, because I think I was defending second round when I was injured a couple of years ago. So straight away, I'm £7,500 up, people around me, hopefully they get beat. Even though one is Ross!

"But yeah, you've got to capitalise on the increase this year and the money. But like I say, if I can have a decent run this week, it does make it easier next year, because I'm defending a lot of money next year, and if I do what I've done this year, I'll be at Q School."