Nathan Aspinall

About Nathan Aspinall

The darting story of Nathan Aspinall is one of a rags to riches fairytale. A feel good adaptation of how one successful weekend in Somerset completely changed the Englishman’s fortunes and set him on a journey to become one of the best players in the world.

Sporting talent was recognisable from Nathan from an early age. But for an untimely injury, the former Manchester United academy youth goalkeeper could have been shot stopping at Old Trafford instead of maximum scoring at Ally Pally.

But life has a way of throwing us curve balls and the ones you don’t save can often result in a completely different goal.

Nathan’s successes on the oche are plentiful. However, it was at the start of 2019 where joy perhaps exceeded expectation as the Stockport lad earned himself a place at the big table.

Only a few months earlier, The Asp was a 500-1 outsider to become World Champion. With just a few PDC floor titles under his belt and a potential round two clash against an already decorated Gerwyn Price on the horizon, bookies were predicting a relatively early trip back up the M1 for Aspinall.

But after comfortably overcoming Dutchman Geert Nentjes in his opening salvo, Nathan rallied back superbly from two sets down to send the Iceman packing.

Eyebrows continued to raise all the way to the semi-final where a quite magnificent run was eventually halted by compatriot Michael Smith.

Buoyed by his heroics in London, the scene was set nicely for a ground-breaking year. After Gary Anderson’s withdrawal from the Premier League, the PDC opted instead for weekly ‘contender’ replacements, earning the northerner a debut night in Nottingham.

Better was to come as just a short while after that announcement, the train hurtled down the tracks and into Minehead. No longer a rank outsider, Aspinall was now being touted by pundits as a potential winner.

With his confidence enormously out-weighing his bank balance, the youngster headed to the UK Open for what was to become a life changing weekend by the seaside.

And on the 3^rd March 2019, history was made as the Stockport man lifted the coveted trophy and jumped into the world’s top sixteen for the very first time.

Victory over former World Champion Rob Cross in the final eased immediate financial pressures and turned Nathan into a household name overnight.

At the beginning of 2020, the Premier League came a knocking, offering Aspinall a spot in the esteemed competition. Grabbing his opportunity tightly with both hands, it was a narrow defeat to Glen Durrant in the final which prevented doubling his trophy haul.

Nathan would have to endure two more agonising final defeats, both in 2022 before that elusive second major was secured.

With Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith denying The Asp claiming the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts respectively that year, title number two eventually arrived in Blackpool as Nathan Aspinall added his name to the famous Phil Taylor Trophy by becoming the 2023 World Matchplay Champion.

Widely regarded as one of the best on the planet, Nathan now enjoys family life in Glossop, Derbyshire with partner Kirsty and their two daughters, Brooke and Milly.

Sheep mysteriously remain a fear for the two-time PDC major winner but look on the Mr Brightside, you shouldn’t encounter many of them on a big TV stage.