Sporting Life
Nathan Aspinall's clash with Gerwyn Price was an all-time classic
Nathan Aspinall's clash with Gerwyn Price was an all-time classic

World Darts Championship: Nathan Aspinall traces his rise to stardom back to 'that' missed match dart from Gerwyn Price

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Fri December 20, 2019 · 5y ago

In sport, everyone benefits from 'luck' but it means absolutely nothing if you don't make the most of it.

Nathan Aspinall's remarkable rise towards the very top of darts is testament to that – and he's the first person to admit it.

Twelve months ago, the 28-year-old from Stockport headed to his maiden World Championship ranked 73 in the PDC’s Order of Merit and considered a 500/1 no hoper.

Although he’d managed to claim a maiden Pro Tour title three months earlier in the quiet confines of the Barnsley Metrodome, his motivations all year had predominantly been geared towards winning enough money to pay rent and put food on the table.

As is the case with many other sports, don’t let the wealth of the top darting stars distract you from the real pressures faced by those lower down the ladder.

After an easy opener against a hapless Geert Nentjes, Aspinall couldn’t have asked for a much tougher second-round opponent than Gerwyn Price, who was at the height of his pantomime villainy in the wake of his Grand Slam of Darts 'heroics' against Gary Anderson.

The Iceman was doing a fantastic job of silencing the vociferous boo boys and eyed the bullseye for a 3-0 victory. Aspinall was about to bid the Ally Pally farewell and brace himself for another season of clambering up the ladder one rung at a time.

But that match dart missed. There was the Asp’s stroke of luck and he took full advantage, pinning double 16 with his last dart in hand to get a set on the board.

Against almost anyone else – given how far he still was behind – it may have counted for nothing. But, in a crazy atmosphere usually saved for a hostile football derby, Price wilted under a crescendo of unprecedented jeers as much as Aspinall was lifted by a chorus of cheers.

The Asp’s remarkable victory inspired him to reach the semi-finals, where he posted a 100 average in an equally thrilling defeat to Michael Smith. From nowhere had emerged a player of unmistakable talent and, clearly, one capable of producing on the biggest stage of all.

Now, he heads to the Ally Pally on the back of an astounding season in which he won a career-changing UK Open with a 170 checkout and the televised US Darts Masters in sensational fashion, while he’s also reached three other finals, beaten MVG twice out of three meetings – including a 6-1 win – and enjoyed no shortage of humdingers with Price.

But was it really all made possible by the Welshman’s miss at the bull last year? Had that dart gone in, would Aspinall's career still have moved through the gears, or would the fight to pay the bills still be ongoing now?

Aspinall admits that it changed everything. He told Sporting Life: "I believe it is the defining moment to be fair.

"I always think what would have happened if he’d hit that bullseye and beat me 3-0 in sets. Would I have done what I’ve done this year?

"Honest answer? I believe I wouldn’t.

"But that’s darts and I believe things happen for a reason. It was my time to get a bit of luck and that kick started my career this year.

"To reach the top is about consistency but also having bits of luck from time to time.

"I look back at the World Championship and I had some good luck but also some rotten luck – it’s swings and roundabouts.

"So if you get a bit of luck you’ve got to take it with both hands and make the most of it."

Luck was just the opportunity - Aspinall did the rest.

He beat Price again in an epic UK Open semi-final before a surprisingly one-sided victory over Rob Cross that ended with that big fish finale.

Like a darting domino effect, this opened the door to the lucrative World Series, where he’d win the US Darts Masters by beating Cross and Peter Wright before gaining revenge over Smith in the final, in which he averaged 106 and threw a 10-darter that included a bounce out.

"That weekend was probably my best performance wise for a whole weekend – averaging around 103 for the tournament and beating so many world class players.

"I’ve never played to that high standard over three games in one day – not on TV anyway.”

Since pocketing £100,000 for his semi-final run at the Ally Pally, Aspinall has earned the best part of £250,000 this season, including £100,000 for the UK Open, and the impact of that goes beyond security for his family.

He said: "Last year I was going into floor events and European events knowing that if I won my first or second round games then I’d get £1000 and think 'that’s another month rent.' That’s how bad it was.

"The pressure of putting food on the table was another pressure in itself. I also needed to win games to get in the tournaments the week after.

"Obviously I don’t have those problems now and I can go into tournaments not focusing on the money but playing to win titles and trophies.

"It’s a completely different mindset and makes life a little bit easier."

In Aspinall’s case, a life-changing surge up the rankings is a perfect storm of making the most out of your luck, believing in your talent and showcasing an unrelenting determination.

As the pressures of real-life financial worries get taken out of the equation, it’s not just his own mindset that changes when he steps up on the oche.

He said: "Last year I was a 500/1 outsider whereas now people see me as one of the favourites to win tournaments – whether it’s a major, European Tour event or on the floor.

"I’ve earned that right by winning the UK Open and going deep in the Worlds.

"So it is different now when I turn up to these events and I believe people don’t want to play me early on.

"You’ve got to take the positives from that."

Aspinall is currently 12th in the world but it may not be too much longer before he’s gatecrashing the budding rivalry between van Gerwen and Price on a more consistent basis – and potentially in next season’s Premier League.

He said: "I hope I’m in the line-up – it’s the pinnacle of our sport and I’d love to be involved in it next year.

"OK I’ve won two TV titles but there’s also a lot of players in my eyes who deserve a shot as well including Dave Chisnall and Glen Durrant. They’ve got a great chance.

"If I get it then happy days but if I don’t then next year I’ll do more in my power to put the selectors in a position where they can’t not pick me!

"If I have a good world championship that should cement my spot."

Aspinall doesn’t fear anyone and relishes his matches with the player he believes is currently the best in the world right now.

He said: "I love playing Gerwyn Price – I think he brings the best out of me.

"Some people don’t like the celebrations and animations on stage but I love being involved in matches like that.

"The best player in the world right now is Gerwyn, even though he lost in the Players Championship Finals – the level he’s playing at the moment we’ve not seen since van Gerwen a couple of years ago.

"Gezzy is taking it to a higher level and he’s who I’d pick on current form at the moment."

The irony won't be lost on anyone here that while Aspinall made the most of his 'good' luck 12 months ago, Price continued his own surge to the top in spite of it.

Of all the potentially fitting World Championship finals, a meeting between the pair on New Year's Day would be right up there.

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