"I just needed to get a win" - Nathan Aspinall celebrates comeback on European Tour with first victory in two months against Krzysztof Ratajski

Nathan Aspinall has qualified for the second round at the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy. 'The Asp' beat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 in the opening round in Budapest on Friday, and now faces fifth-seeded Danny Noppert in round 2.

Nathan Aspinall made his comeback on the European Tour on Friday night in Budapest after a two-month absence due to an elbow injury. "I just needed to get a win," admitted Aspinall, who is currently ranked fifth in the world despite his absence over recent months. "I’ve not won a game of darts for two months because I’ve not been playing, so to get a win on my return to the European Tour can only give me confidence."

Aspinall is already looking forward to his second-round match against Noppert with confidence. "I’m going to take a lot of positives from tonight and hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow against Danny.”

The winner of the duel between Aspinall and Noppert will take on the winner of the match between Gian van Veen and Keane Barry.

The Hungarian Darts Trophy will be broadcast on PDC TV. As usual with Euro Tour tournaments, the Hungarian Darts Trophy consists of three tournament days. The afternoon sessions start daily at 12:00, while the evening sessions start at 18:00.

The first round will take place on Friday. The 16 Order of Merit qualifiers and the winners from the various qualifying tournaments then make their appearance. The top-16 seeded players enter the tournament on Saturday in the second round. Sunday will see the denouement of the tournament, starting with the third round in the afternoon session. Sunday evening will be followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

At this Euro Tour tournament, a total of £175,000 in prize money will be divided among the 48 participants. They will receive at least 1250 pounds in starting money. The top-16 seeded players who enter the Hungarian Darts Trophy from the second round will receive 2,500 pounds anyway.

They do - like the 16 Order of Merit qualifiers starting in the first round - have to win their first match in order for the prize money to count toward the world rankings and the other rankings. The winner of the Hungarian Darts Trophy eventually goes home with the top prize of 30,000 pounds.