"If they put them in, it looks bad on the PDC in my opinion" - Nathan Aspinall frustrated by Premier League attitude of Gerwyn Price & Gary Anderson

Nathan Aspinall hasn't had the greatest year of his career in 2024. The 33-year-old Englishman, a two-time major winner, had to deal with injury problems for quite some time and has dropped to twelfth place in the world rankings ahead of the 2025 World Darts Championship.

With those injury problems are now behind him though, the Asp can look ahead again. 'The Asp' is seeded 12th at this year's World Darts Championship and will meet the winner of the duel between Cameron Menzies and Leonard Gates in the second round. After disappointment at the Ally Pally last year, he's also doing his preparation a little differently this time around.

"Last year I took a different approach. I didn't do any exhibitions, I just practiced practiced, practiced and you know what, I was playing really well going into the Worlds. I did a lot of hours with Michael Smith, but obviously, we all know how that ended," he tells Online Darts. "This year, I thought you know what, I'm going to work, I'm going to do a lot of exhibitions, a lot of shows, but not on my own. With these big productions where you're playing on big stages. I've played in front of 10,000 in two nights. What better practice than that you know?"

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Aspinall reached the semifinals of the World Darts Championships in 2019 and 2020, but since then has never advanced beyond the third round. Last year, he even lost in his opening match to Ricky Evans. Another such result this year, could rule him out of contention for the 2025 Premier League Darts. Unlike some others though, Aspinall is open and honest about his desire to play in the travelling roadshow of darts.

"You know what, it really grates on me (players saying they don't want Premier League ed.). Really good mates with Gary Anderson, really good mates with Gerwyn Price, but if they don't want it, don't give it to them whether they deserve it or not," Aspinall explains. "Why should they get that spot when people like myself, okay I've had a bad year and I don't deserve it, but I want it and I will bring something. I will give 110% every single night on that stage. If they can't be arsed, why put them in? I just don't get it. I don't even know why the PDC would consider it. Because I think if they put them in, it looks bad on the PDC in my opinion."

Nathan Aspinall in action

Aspinall did not get beyond a semifinal place at the Masters this year, thanks in part to injury, his best result at a major. As mentioned though, coming into the World Darts Championship, the Englishman is injury-free and ready to make an impact at the biggest tournament of the year in the coming weeks, arresting his recent slide down the Order of Merit.

"I don't belong outside the top 16. I'm a top 10 player in my opinion, people might disagree, but I'm a top 10 player and I've just got to work hard, play in everything and you know, try not to be complacent," he concludes. "I'm giving 110% and I know everyone says that, and after a week they stop playing, but I'm going to do everything this year."

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