Nathan Aspinall has made waves at the PDC World Darts Championship, sailing through to the last 16 with an impressive 4-0 victory over Andrew Gilding at Alexandra Palace. This marks the first time since 2019 Aspinall has reached this stage, and he did it with style, showcasing both his skill and charisma on the oche.
During the match, Aspinall and Gilding engaged in quite the showdown. The British star, affectionately known as 'The Asp', jumped to an early 3-0 lead and continued his momentum, reaching 2-1 up in legs within the fourth set. Just inches away from sealing his victory, Aspinall paused the match to witness something unexpected—a fan chugging down four pints of beer. With the crowd behind him, the scene unfolded humorously as Aspinall watched with amusement.
"I was intrigued. Fair play, I only know one guy who can do it and that's Dave Chisnall. I watched it and couldn't start as I wanted to watch it, but fair play to him, even though he got kicked out," Aspinall later told talkSPORT, highlighting the chaotic yet entertaining nature of the evening.
Despite the distraction, Aspinall kept his focus and ended the match with a solid average of 92.17, complemented by six 180s thrown at strategic moments. His finishing emerged as the focal point of his performance, as he capitalized on Gilding’s missed darts which could have turned the tide.
"Normally I'm really bad at finishing, but in the last two games I’ve scored very well. I don’t care about averages and numbers – I’m in the last 16," Aspinall said, indicating his contentment with reaching this level of the competition.
Aspinall’s route to success was bolstered by hitting six out of seven attempts at the outer ring, showcasing his ruthlessness on doubles. His sole 100-plus checkout of the match—a 101 finish—was both timely and clinical, leaving no doubt about his readiness to advance.
Looking forward, Aspinall is set to face Ricardo Pietreczko, who has been making headlines with his aggressive performances. Pietreczko triumphed over Scott Williams with a commanding 4-1 victory and boasts high averages, with one match seeing him hit 118.66. Their face-off promises to be enticing, as both players excelled at their finishing skills but come with different styles and pressures.
"I'm really excited to play Nathan, he's a really great player and I know what he is capable of," Pietreczko commented, which reflects the mutual respect shared among competitors at this elite level.
The atmosphere at Alexandra Palace has echoed with enthusiasm from fans, all anxiously gathering to witness the next chapter of the championship. Aspinall expressed his appreciation for the supportive energy surrounding the matches, which can significantly shift the dynamics of play.
Aspinall's triumph serves as more than just another match won; it stands as a reminder of his capacity to battle through fluctuations of form. Advocates of darts will recall Aspinall's semi-final runs back-to-back from 2019 to 2020, and the hopes are pinned on his revival to reconnect with those heights.
"I think I’m happy where my head is at, but I’m not necessarily happy with my overall performance yet," Aspinall admitted, recognizing the road still lies ahead with much improvement to be made as the championship climaxes.
Fans await with bated breath to see if Aspinall can continue his momentum and navigate through upcoming challenges at the PDC World Darts Championship. For now, his 4-0 whitewash of Andrew Gilding leaves him poised at the brink of potentially historic feats.
