"You’re not that old yet, Nathan, come on, get some motivation": Nathan Aspinall finds inner will to win after admitting to not enjoying darts previously

After months of searching, doubt, and disappointment, Nathan Aspinall finally has a reason to smile again. At the European Tour in Munich, the Englishman claimed his first title of 2026, and perhaps more importantly, he rediscovered the joy in the game that has given him so much in recent years.

The relief after his 8-5 win over Danny Noppert in the final of the German Darts Grand Prix was visible and audible afterwards as he spoke to DartsNews. Aspinall, usually a player who thrives on emotion and adrenaline, has struggled lately. Not so much due to a lack of quality, but because of a combination of physical and mental strain, and the punishing travel schedule that comes with professional darts.

“Yeah, amazing. I’ve not won a tournament since September, I think it was. I lost in a final earlier this year, but apart from that I’ve had nothing to celebrate," said Aspinall to DartsNews. "It’s hard, you know, turning up week in, week out and getting beaten in the second round, it’s very tough. But nights like tonight are why I play this game. I absolutely love it. The support I’ve had this weekend has been fantastic, and yeah, I’m very happy to get my first title of the year.”

Less than 24 hours before his triumph, Aspinall sounded strikingly downbeat. He admitted he wasn’t even enjoying darts at the moment, a notable confession from a player known for his passion on stage. But as so often in elite sport, one moment can flip everything.

“Yeah, one weekend can change everything. I’m not going to change the fact that I’m struggling with the travelling at the moment, that’s still the case.

But the motivation and hunger that tonight’s win has given me is unbelievable. I want to play now next week, I’m raring to go, do you know what I mean?”

That renewed drive is typical of Aspinall. Where he had been battling disappointing results, he is already looking ahead. “Before, if I lost first round, it was like, ‘another weekend, poor result, poor performance.’ But I played fantastic this weekend and I’m proud of myself.”

This win is no fluke, as shown by the work Aspinall has put in over recent weeks. Behind the scenes he actively searched for solutions to his dip in form, working closely with his sports psychologist. “I’ve picked myself up, I’ve worked very hard over the last two weeks with my sports psychologist, trying to find something, and it’s worked. I owe Sean a lot of credit for this win, but also myself.”

Notably, Aspinall often produces his best on the European Tour. With this title he adds another success to an impressive run, four titles within twelve months on this circuit. The question is obvious, what makes him so strong here?

“I’m a stage player, I’m a lot better on stage. But I think it took me a long time to get the gist of the break, do I sleep, do I eat, what do I do? Do I stay at the venue?”

He refers to the typical structure of the European Tour, where players face long days, breaks between matches, and constant decisions on how best to manage that time. “I found something last year, and I did that again today, and it paid dividends.”

The European Tour is known for its intensity. Travelling, playing, waiting, all on a tight schedule. For many players it’s a slog, and Aspinall is no exception.

“It’s very tough and very tiring, but I’m 34 years of age. There are a lot of people older than me in this game. You look at the line-up tonight, I’m playing Andrew Gilding, who’s in his 50s, Jonny Clayton.”

Yet he refuses to hide behind it. Instead, he uses it as fuel. “If I can’t find that extra 5, 10% more than them, there’s something wrong.”

That mindset defines the Englishman, critical, demanding, and always searching for improvement. Throughout the tournament in Munich he maintained a constant internal dialogue to keep himself sharp. This also after he admitted on Saturday to DartsNews that he was struggling with motivation. “That’s what I was telling myself today, ‘you’re not that old yet, Nathan, come on, get some motivation.’”

It’s an approach that may sound simple, but at the highest level it’s essential. Darts is no longer just about technique, the mental side plays just as big a role. “I was just trying to get the energy levels up, and, you know, a can of Red Bull sorted me out.”

With this win, Aspinall appears to have launched a new phase in his season. The title in Munich is not just another trophy, but above all a mental boost after a difficult period. Where he had been struggling with motivation and enjoyment, he now exudes the energy that makes him so dangerous on stage.

For his rivals, that’s not good news, a rejuvenated Aspinall is a player who can win any tournament at any time.

Still, he remains realistic. One good weekend does not make a perfect season, but it does provide direction and belief. But nights like tonight are why I play this game. I absolutely love it.” And that feeling, the adrenaline, the tension, the crowd support, is exactly what has put him back on track.

One factor Aspinall is keen to highlight is the support from the fans. In Munich he could count on a lively crowd, something that’s common on the European Tour. “The support I’ve had this weekend has been fantastic.”