Professional Darts Corporation star Nathan Aspinall has delivered a brutally honest verdict on the atmosphere at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, casting uncertainty over the sport's long-term future in the region.
A Win Overshadowed by a Quiet Arena
The world number 14, Nathan Aspinall, kicked off his campaign at the Riyadh tournament on Monday evening with a commanding 6-0 whitewash victory over Asian qualifier Lourence Ilagan. Despite the emphatic win at the Global Theatre, the Stockport-born player's attention was drawn to the eerily quiet surroundings.
When questioned about whether this event could mark the beginning of a sustained partnership between the PDC darts tour and Saudi Arabia, Aspinall responded with notable scepticism. "I don't know," he stated. "There is definitely a long way to go. It's certainly different. I am not stupid, I feel like they were not all there off their own accord shall we say."
Aspinall's Candid Assessment of the Future
While acknowledging the need for any venture to start somewhere, Aspinall highlighted the importance of genuine fan engagement for the sport's growth in the new market. "It was quite a small venue but you've got to start somewhere," he conceded.
"Everything needs to start somewhere and as long as people walk away from this week and say, 'we really enjoyed the darts' and the Saudi Arabian press really enjoy the darts there is no reason why not," Aspinall added, offering a conditional note of optimism.
Context of Premier League Snub
The candid comments come shortly after Aspinall was overlooked for selection for the 2026 Premier League, a decision he discovered via text message while travelling with fellow player Stephen Bunting last week. Despite a strong season that included a run to the World Championship quarter-finals and the Players Championship Finals, the PDC opted for an alternative eight-man line-up.
Reflecting on the omission, Aspinall said: "Matt Porter explained the reasons why I wasn't in. I felt like I backdoored it last year, I probably didn't deserve it last year. I felt like I deserved it this year if I did get it." He has since used the snub as motivation for his performances in the Middle East.
Aspinall progressed to the quarter-finals in Riyadh, joining fellow PDC stars Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen. The only Asian representative to make the last eight was Man Lok Leung, who caused an upset by defeating Danny Noppert 6-3.
