Nathan Aspinall learned his draw fate yesterday and he will face off against Luke Woodhouse to begin his World Matchplay quest. The defending champion won in a magical run last year and it is a tournament that will always hold the best memories.
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This is despite Aspinall's recent travails with injury with a recent admission that his injury was worse than two years ago. He admitted himself during an interview with Betfred that he will have to give it 110% to get through and doesn't know how his body will hold up.
But it is a tournament he holds in the same regard as the World Championship as he detailed and he is part of a select few to seal it.
"Probably my proudest moment as a darts player to date...until I win the World's. But it's an amazing tournament. It's just the building, the history of the World Matchplay. What Phil Taylor did in the Winter Gardens. The crowd, the fans, the walk on. It's the best 32 players in the world. What more do you want," said Aspinall to Betfred. "Obviously I won it last year and it'll always hold a special place in my heart."
He quipped at the time that it was a tournament that can only be won by special darts players and he sees only two tournaments as being the standouts. "World Championship and World Matchplay. I won the UK Open, it's a major but the World Matchplay is the best 32 players, no lucky draws. No easy rounds, you're playing the best of the best. Long format, very tough conditions it's very warm. It's probably the second hardest tournament to win and I did it."
"I'm looking forward to being brought on as the defending champion. I'm just going to try and grab as many memories of that final day as I can. A lot of people know I'm probably not in the best of form at the moment. That's not down to my game, I've got an injury. But I will give it 110%, I want to defend that title. I want my trophy back."
"I have had injuries for the past two years and I've still been winning tournaments so imagine how good I'll be when it's sorted. It'll be amazing if I can go back to back. It's going to be very tough for me. Is my arm going to hold up? I don't know until I do it. I'll try my best for my fans and my family."
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England are currently playing in the Euro's and Aspinall was given the question whether he would want to win a second World Matchplay or the football tournament and it was an emphatic answer as he also gave Gareth Southgate some advice.
"Matchplay without a doubt," quickly said Aspinall. "Don't be scared to change things. It's coming home, you've got to be positive."
He also supports Manchester United and with Erik ten Hag receiving a new contract, he said he is the man to back.
"There's no-one out there. He's won two trophies in two years. They've got the better stable now and infrastructure at the top. I think we will do a job."
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Also he gave his five-a-side team out of darts players."Nathan in net. I'd have at the back Dobey he's a big lad and Littler for the same reason," he laughed. "Joe Cullen because he's not a bad footballer and another little whippet Humphries."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
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.
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- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026