German Darts Championship Round-Up | Nathan Aspinall ends European Tour season with third title of 2025 in dazzling Van Duijvenbode win

Nathan Aspinall is the champion at the German Darts Championship with 'The Asp' firing to a heroic win over Dirk van Duijvenbode on Sunday night.

Aspinall hadn't won a European Tour up until this year but has won three in a season scooping the European Darts Open, European Darts Trophy and now the German Darts Championship.

A fairly befitting ending to the story too given that the Hildesheim tournament heads off the calendar in 2026 and perhaps the best player on the European Tour this year scoops it. He raced into a 6-2 lead but was sent to a decider winning it in the end 8-6.
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A 180 saw Aspinall well ahead in the leg but Van Duijvenbode asked the question with a maximum. Only for Aspinall to shut the door with an 84 checkout to make it 1-0. Van Duijvenbode technically made it back-to-back 180's to start his throw. And then a third as he left the nine-dart finish. Van Duijvenbode went the same route again going treble 18 and he was left flailing his arms and punching his thigh. He hit double six for a 10-darter. Aspinall hit double 15 for a 90 checkout to hold for 2-1. Van Duijvenbode couldn't get round a wall of two darts for 80. Aspinall missed three though for 3-1 and Van Duijvenbode returned for 2-2. Aspinall left 100 on his throw and brilliantly went 3-2 up.

Aspinall raced ahead as Van Duijvenbode started to get flustered as he went 5-2 up and three away. More bother came for Van Duijvenbode as despite putting himself in position, Aspinall took out 121 for 6-2. Aspinall missed the chance to go one away and despite issues with a member of the crowd, Van Duijvenbode broke back for 6-3.

Van Duijvenbode hits double 20 snuck into the top of the bed for 6-4. 138 for Van Duijvenbode left a two darter for 90 with Aspinall way back. Van Duijvenbode missed two darts but he returned and he made it 6-5. Van Duijvenbode opened the door but Aspinall missed bull for 123 and the Titan made it 6-6. Aspinall stopped the rot and hit a 180 in the final leg to leave 130. Despite messing around, he hit a 74 checkout and was crowned champion.

Starting the night was Gian van Veen who took down Danny Noppert in what was a very Dutch heavy evening. It was a 106 checkout to start. 101 was missed from Noppert and Van Veen took aim at 103 but also missed a chance to break for 2-0 and it was 1-1.

Van Veen hit a 100 checkout to go 2-1 up and he kept edging ahead hitting double 20 and double 14 for 4-3. Noppert missed 170. Van Veen hit 180 to leave 81 and took it for 5-3. A 13-dart double 15 for Van Veen sealed it.

Aspinall from there faced another Dutchman in Jermaine Wattimena and claimed the win. Aspinall missed 138 but Wattimena was way back early as he made it 1-1. Wattimena took a 2-1 lead after Aspinall missed 89 for a break and Wattimena took the impetus but Aspinall returned for 2-2.

Aspinall pinned double 16 for 4-3 and Wattimena though was throwing to go one away. Only for Aspinall to produce a superb 11-darter 81 checkout and he led 5-4 and was throwing for the win. A win he claimed.

Then it was Van Duijvenbode's turn in a match against Peter Wright littered with breaks of throw. Van Duijvenbode weathered the early storm and tumbled in a 160 checkout for 5-4. Van Duijvenbode missed match darts and Wright sent it all the way. Only for Dirk to dethrone the defending champion.

Then it was Krzysztof Ratajski's turn to end the golden run of Dave Chisnall as the latter missed match darts en route to a dramatic decider and Ratajski broke to win. But perhaps Van Veen will be the one kicking himself the most. He eased into a 4-0 lead and had all the impetus. He held throw on double 20 to even make it 5-3 when Aspinall was kicking at his heels followed by a 170 checkout.

But Aspinall never goes down without a fight and broke again for 6-6 pinning double 18 to send it to a decider.and he completed the turnaround to reach the final. While Van Duijvenbode was more academic albeit with brilliance again.

He saw off Krzysztof Ratajski 7-3 with a 146 checkout to win and set up the tie with Aspinall. This after a run that also saw a 128 checkout to go two away at 5-2.