"He's a great dart player, but he's an odd character" - Nathan Aspinall readies himself for Ricardo Pietreczko in PDC World Darts Championship last 16

For the first time in five years, Nathan Aspinall is into the last 16 at the PDC World Darts Championship. 'The Asp' comfortably defeated Andrew Gilding 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Ally Pally, to set up an intriguing meeting with Ricardo Pietreczko in the next round.

A two-time PDC World Darts Championship semifinalist, Aspinall does have some proven pedigree on the Alexandra Palace stage. As mentioned though, in recent years, the Englishman has found wins up there harder to come by. Despite not hitting top gear against Gilding, averaging just 92.17, Aspinall's hopes of adding the Sid Waddell Trophy to his collection remain alive and well.

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"I've said it in my other interviews. Bobby George once said: 'Scoring for show, doubles for dough,' and I think that has been the epitome of my first two games," assesses the Asp when speaking to the media post-match. "So far this tournament, my finishing has been absolutely world class. So if the scoring can come into play next game, or for the rest of the tournament, I'll be very tough to beat!"

"I think in that venue on Monday it will be electric," Aspinall previews of his upcoming last 16 tie, noting how the notoriously vocal Ally Pally crowd could be split in their support due to the influx of German supporters in North London. "I think it's going to be more football than darts if I'm deadly honest with you, you know, it's England vs Germany. But listen I know I'll go out there and I'll beat him, and that's all I got to do."

Aspinall all smiles as he walks to the Ally Pally stage

The crowd was similarly split in Pietreczko's last 32 victory over Scott Williams on Saturday afternoon as the vast number of German fans that flock to the World Darts Championship every year made themselves heard. Perhaps spurred on by their support, 'Pikachu' convincingly dumped out last year's losing semi-finalist Williams 4-1 in a very impressive display. "I actually thought I was going to play Scott if I'm deadly honest with you," Aspinall admits with slight surprise. "I was actually trying to think of a way to deal with his blind 180's, because that would've grated on me. But obviously he got beat, so look, I think it's going to be maybe 60-40 English in there now. Although I don't know the ticket sales obviously."

"He's a great dart player, but he's an odd character, that's all I can say" Aspinall adds on Pietreczko in conclusion. "He keeps himself to himself, he brings his partner with him everywhere and I don't really speak to him. I played him in the Grand Slam that time and it was very odd how he performed on the stage. But listen, I don't care what he's like as a person, I'm going up there to smash him on the dartboard and I know I'm going to have to be at my best to beat him because he's a fantastic dart player."

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