Nathan Aspinall was pushed all the way by Daryl Gurney who was making good on his late call-up but couldn't win through in a decider against 'The Asp' who prevailed 10-9 at the 2024 Masters.
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Aspinall recovered from 8-6 down and defied serious doubling issues with 10/43 on the outer ring to see off Gurney 10-9 and he will take his place in tonight's evening session to battle for the title alongside Stephen Bunting.
To begin the tie, Aspinall was cruising as he steamrollered into a 4-1 lead at the first interval against Gurney averaging 94.4. But 'Superchin' sparked into life from there hitting a 126 checkout on the bull to trail 4-2.
He continued to sit on the coattails at 6-4 down with a 180, 177 and double six. Aspinall missed five darts at double eight, allowing Gurney back to go 6-5 down. Aspinall was sat at 23 missed darts at double and Gurney stepped in to make it 6-6. Gurney continued to head towards the front as Aspinall struggled.
He hit a 100 checkout to make it five legs on the spin to make it 8-6. Aspinall got back into the match with a 98 checkout to make it 8-8 and he suddenly went one away at 9-8. Gurney sent it to a decider though hitting double four to make it 9-9.
But it was Aspinall who hit double five in the decider to edge through and deny Gurney the chance to continue his last minute call-up run.
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ASPINALL SNEAKS THROUGH!
Pushed all the way by Daryl Gurney, but Nathan Aspinall eventually gets over the line to reach the Semi-Finals!
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