Nathan Aspinall wrapped up his end of the bargain when it came to his mission to qualify for the European Championship as others floundered and he prevailed.
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A huge list of players failed to win meaning Aspinall and Dirk van Duijvenbode remain in pole position to qualify. He opened his Czech Darts Open account hammering Michal Smejda 6-1.
"It's a big weekend for many players and I looked this afternoon and I think the results have gone my way. A lot of names have gone out that were up my backside I should say," said Aspinall post match.
"It's a big week. I want to get there, I want to get to the finals and that's obviously given me a massive chance now. I don't want to be having to go and then beating Luke to qualify if I'm being dead honest. But I've done my job tonight that's all I can do."
Next up though is a certain Luke Littler who is part of his management stable and somebody that Aspinall knows well. But the friendship goes out of the window as he looks to seal his spot in Dortmund.
"No-one needs me to stand on this stage and tell you about Luke Littler. He's a credit to the game. He's absolutely fantastic but I know I can beat him and he knows I can beat him. Hopefully what I've done tonight has done the job (on Euros qualification) but you never know. Going to go up there tomorrow (Saturday) and enjoy the game."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
THE ASP SAILS THROUGH! 🐍
Nathan Aspinall sees off Michal Smejda, as he beats the Host Nation Qualifier 6-1, finishing the tie with a 114 checkout!
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