"I've had a pretty torrid week in my personal life, and that was something I needed" - Nathan Aspinall back to brilliant best to reach Winmau World Masters last 16

Nathan Aspinall started the 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters with a very strong performance. 'The Asp' defeated Andrew Gilding 3-0 in his opening match and is now set to take on Cameron Menzies in the last 16, after the Scot upset Dave Chisnall.

Incidentally, it Aspinall and Gilding posted a 100+ average in a high quality match on Friday night. Still, Aspinall left his opponent defenseless, and it was a much needed reminder of his brilliance from The Asp. "Yeah, apparently I was on death door according to the papers," Aspinall laughed to open his post-match press conference. "It was a good performance. I know that's what I've been doing for a while in practice, but to put it on stage, the whole package, I'm happy."

"Everyone knows that I'm a good player, but I'm just lacking so much confidence and I think I've walked up onto that stage, probably the happiest and the most confident I've felt going back three years," Aspinall continues. "I needed that big performance tonight for myself. Forget about anyone else, but for myself. I've had a pretty torrid week in my personal life, and that was something I needed to happen."

Although he played at the WDF Winmau World Masters in 2013, this is Aspinall's first PDC experience of the relentless and unique format the tournament offers. "It's brutal! I watched a lot of games last night and it was so like, one minute someone's winning and in control, then it flips. Look at Willie Borland and you know, Rob Cross' game against William O'Connor," says Aspinall. "I think it's a fantastic format for the fans, but brutal for the players."

As mentioned, in the last sixteen, Aspinall will take on Cameron Menzies. "I've got a lot of time for Cammy and I've got a lot of respect for Cammy. I've known him before the darts and he's a fantastic guy," Aspinall says of his opponent.