The story of Nathan Aspinall: from just £20 to his name to successful darts millionaire

Saturday, 18 May 2024 at 10:00

Nathan Aspinall, born July 15, 1991, in the English town of Stockport, is one of the most industrious darters of his generation. His rise through professional darts is a story of perseverance and tremendous dedication to the sport.

After the first few successes of his career, "The Asp" fell off for a short while, but he managed to pick himself up and become better than ever.

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The beginning of his career

Nathan Aspinall began his darts career like many others, in local pubs and small leagues. He always had a passion for darts, but it took some time before he began to realize his potential. Aspinall's early years were marked by hard training and the quest for consistency. His first big break came in 2012 when he participated in the PDC Development Tour, a series of tournaments created specifically for young talents at the PDC

Aspinall also appeared in action on the Challenge Tour, where he managed to reach a semifinal in 2013. In 2015, 'The Asp' managed to gain himself entry to the lucrative Pro Tour circuit by securing a Tour Card through the Q School Order of Merit. The first few years on the PDC circuit were difficult. Still, there were some highlights, including qualifying for the final of the 2015 PDC World Youth Championship. This match was lost 6-5 against Max Hopp after missed match darts.

Also, Aspinall reached his first quarterfinal on the Pro Tour in 2016 and, in addition, he was allowed to compete at the Grand Slam of Darts in 2016. However, the darter from Stockport had not earned enough prize money in two years to keep his Tour Card. He did not manage to regain a Tour Card until 2018.

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The Breakthrough

It turned out to be the start of a breakthrough. The story about that has been often widely reported in the press. In September 2018, Aspinall had only £20 left in his bank account. The Englishman was eventually able to compete in the next Players Championship tournament and Aspinall managed to win that tournament earning 10,000 pounds in one fell swoop.

It proved to be the kickstart he needed. At the World Darts Championship, Aspinall made it to the semifinals and at the 2019 UK Open, 'The Asp' won his first major title. He successively defeated Toni Alcinas (6-3), Christian Kist (10-9), Madars Razma (10-2), Steve Lennon (10-8), Ross Smith (10-6), Gerwyn Price (11-9) and Rob Cross (11-5) to finally be allowed to lift the cup. With his results at the World Darts Championship and the 2019 UK Open, Aspinall collected a total of 200,000 pounds in prize money.

A year later, Aspinall again reached the semifinals at the World Darts Championship and even got to make his debut in the Premier League Darts. Aspinall did so successfully. He reached the final of the Premier League, but had to leave the final victory to Glen Durrant. In 2020 Aspinall continued to compete in all major tournaments and reached the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam of Darts. There were also successes at the majors in 2021, with a quarterfinal finish at the World Matchplay and a semifinal at the European Championship. But the year ended on a minor note for Aspinall.

In 2019, Nathan Aspinall surprisingly won the UK Open title in Minehead

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Injury nearly costs Aspinall his career

At the end of the 2021 season, Aspinall injured his wrist and elbow. As a result, he was eliminated early at the 2021 Players Championship Finals and the 2022 World Darts Championship.

In fact, the injury proved so bad that there were doubts about whether Aspinall could continue his career. But after proper treatment and necessary rest, Aspinall was able to return to the oche.

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Better than ever

It initially took Aspinall a while to find his old level again, but after a quarterfinal place at the 2022 World Matchplay, 'The Asp' had also regained his confidence. It led Aspinall to reach the finals at the World Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts. These finals were lost, but the tone was set for the new season. After a disappointing World Darts Championship, in which Aspinall was unlucky to encounter the up-and-coming Josh Rock early, he made it to the quarterfinals at the 2023 UK Open.

The highlight of his career to date, however, came in July 2023. The Englishman managed to capture the World Matchplay title out of nowhere after victories over Krzysztof Ratajski (10-7), Danny Noppert (11-9), Chris Dobey (16-12), Joe Cullen (17-9) and Jonny Clayton (18-6). As a result, he made his entry into the top five of the world rankings. Currently, Aspinall has even climbed to the fourth position on the PDC Order of Merit and is one of the top performers at PDC tournaments almost every week.

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Playing Style

Nathan Aspinall is known for his aggressive playing style and sharp finishing ability. His scoring ability, combined with his composure under pressure, makes him a formidable darter. One of his greatest strengths is his mental toughness; he has repeatedly proven his ability to come back from behind and win important matches.

Personal life

Outside of darts, Nathan Aspinall is a family man. He is married to his childhood sweetheart and the couple has two children. Aspinall often talks about the importance of his family and how they motivate him to do his best on stage. His down-to-earth personality and accessibility have made him popular among fans.

Loved walk-on song

At major tournaments, Aspinall uses the song Mr. Brightside by The Killers to make his way to the stage. This sing-along is one of the most beloved walk-on numbers among darts fans.

The song is also heartily sung along outside the English borders, even when the song has been edited out by the director.

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Just listen to that noise! 😍 Nathan Aspinall is LOVING this! The Asp serenades the capacity crowd at the Empress Ballroom, as 'Mr Brightside' rings around the Winter Gardens! 🎶 📺 bit.ly/WM23Live| #WMDarts QFs