Nathan Aspinall suggests Premier League Darts lineup should just be top-8 in the world: "Save all the disappointment from Mike de Decker, who's world number 24"

The 2025 Premier League Darts campaign kicks off in Belfast tonight. On night one, Nathan Aspinall will take on world number one Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals. Given the presence of 'The Asp' has caused much discussion beforehand, the 33-year-old Englishman will be out to prove a point and to prove the critics wrong.

This year's Premier League Darts lineup seemed to cause more controversy than ever before, with notable players such as Mike de Decker and Dave Chisnall speaking out against the final selection. Given a quiet 2024 by his own high standards, not many expected Aspinall to be involved, but his place as a firm fan's favourite has seemingly helped the PDC give him the nod. "I can't wait to get going. I'm looking forward to being on that stage and it's going to be an amazing night," previews Aspinall from the PDC's pre-Premier League media day in Belfast.

"If everything is right in my head and at home, then the darts take care of themselves. I've never lost the ability to be a world class dart player you know, I think you've seen it over the years when I've been scrapping through tournaments and stuff because of injuries, I've never lost that ability to be a world class dart player. It's all the other stuff that's away from the oche," Aspinall continues. "But yeah, over the last 12 months I've been working hard and getting things right because I knew this is a big year for myself, and I think we're not far off."

Over recent years, regardless of form elsewhere, Aspinall has always performed at the Premier League Darts, including reaching the final in 2020. "I just love the buzz. If you can't get up for a Premier League night, what is the point of playing darts," he says. "You're playing in front of the biggest crowds, in the best venues, in the best cities and it's just amazing. Louder the better for me, that's the type of guy I am. I'm a bit of a party animal as everyone knows, so for me, when I walk out and the crowd are all singing every single Thursday night, it's amazing."

As mentioned though, this year Aspinall's presence in the travelling darts roadshow has come under a lot of scrutiny, even from his fellow pros. "It's not a ranking event, that's what people have got to remember. It's basically a big, massive exhibition for 16 weeks. People need to realise that it's the players people want to see," says the two-time major winner of the criticism. "If it was down to me, I'd make it the top eight in the world to save all the stuff that I've been through and the disappointment from Mike de Decker who's world number 24. Save all the is he in, is he not? Just top 8. Done."