Latest news with #NathanAspinall
The Sun
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
European Darts Open LIVE RESULTS: Tournament on NOW with Aspinall and Bunting in action TONIGHT after Smith CRASHES OUT
THE European Darts Open is LIVE from Leverkusen - and there has been some shock early exits! Four-time PDC World Cup of Darts winner Raymond van Barneveld went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Andreas Harryson - with the Swede then going on to beat 2023 world champion Michael Smith. Stephen Bunting enters as the No 1 seed and is joined by Premier League Darts semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall. Neither Prem winner Luke Humphries and runner-up Luke Littler are both not featuring in the tournament. While Michael van Gerwen is also absent as he takes a break from the sport following his split from wife Daphne. Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘There are so many in the making' – Nathan Aspinall reveals there's an army of Luke Littlers ready to take over darts
NATHAN ASPINALL reckons darts has boomed so much these past two years that 'footballers and actors' are all obsessed with what is happening on the oche. But he claims the next generation of tungsten throwers will be groomed in sports academies rather than unearthed on building sites. 4 4 4 The 17-week Premier League Darts reached its climax last Thursday night with Luke Humphries beating Luke Littler in the O2 Arena final. Two days before that, Prem semi-finalist Aspinall was a guest at Tottenham playmaker James Maddison's golf day at The Centurion Club with darts pal Joe Cullen. The annual invitational golf tournament – which raises funds for different causes – was attended by ex-footballers John Terry, Jimmy Bullard, Wes Morgan, Gareth Barry and comedian Michael McIntyre. And Aspinall – a two-time major winner – claims everybody was talking to him about Littler and Co. Stockport's world No.9 said: 'Everyone is obsessed with darts. I was at this golf day and everyone wanted to talk to me about the darts. 'I'm looking around, all these footballers and actors and stuff. Everyone was speaking to me. 'Everyone loves darts. Whatever you're a celebrity, own a company, from a council estate. Whether you're a kid. A woman. A Man. 'We all know we owe a lot of it to Luke. But also the rest of the guys that turn out week-in, week-out. 'Oh my god, John Terry shot four under gross. And he plays off five. 'Joe Cullen played as well. He was a bit worse for wear the next morning, shall we say. Luke Humphries apologises to fans after hilarious nine-darter fail leaves even rival Nathan Aspinall laughing 'Humphries was asked to play in it but he didn't want to risk injuring himself before the finals. Whereas I couldn't give a s***.' Littler emerged on the senior scene in December 2023 aged 16 and raced all the way to the World Darts final where he lost to Humphries. A year later, he went one step further and lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy at the age of 17. It is a far cry from previous world champions like Phil Taylor (ceramic factory), Gary Anderson (grate builder), Peter Wright (tyre fitter) and Rob Cross (electrician) who had other jobs before throwing darts. Yet Aspinall – who runs a darts academy in the North West – reckons there is an army of wannabe Littler s set to appear in the coming years. Aspinall, a father of two, said: 'There are so many more Luke Littlers in the making at the moment. It's mental. 'I might be 33 but I'm an old boy compared to what's coming through. 'If the money gets to like golf levels, there's no way people are doing this for 25 years. 'Guys in their early to mid-30s are the last of a generation and after us it's going to be all these kids coming through, who're fearless. 'Then it will go from this pub game, which everyone still calls it, even though it is not. And it will finally be called a sport in 5-10 years. 'But the problem you're going to have is: Where are the characters? 'You see it with footballers when they do their interviews, they are robots. They get told what to say. And they are all the same answers all the time. 'I think people like myself, I just say it as it is. It gets me in trouble a lot of time. I've had no media training in my career. 'I was thrown into the deep end. I don't want darts to get that to level. Because you do need those characters in the game. 'If everyone turns up and they are all the same, they all throw the same, no-one celebrates, does the interviews the same, it would get boring. Hopefully that doesn't happen.'
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
European Darts Open LIVE RESULTS: Tournament on NOW as Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall feature on day two
THE EUROPEAN Darts Open is here live from Leverkusen - and there has been a shock early exit! Four-time PDC World Cup of Darts winner Raymond van Barneveld went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Andreas Harryson. Stephen Bunting enters as the No 1 seed and is joined by Premier League Darts semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall. Prem winner Luke Humphries and runner-up Luke Littler are both not featuring in the tournament. While Michael van Gerwen is also absent as he takes a break from the sport following his split from wife Daphne. Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Rock 'n' roll world of darts steals limelight from football elite as The Asp wants the robots to stay away
Nathan Aspinall shocked at attention ahead of football icons and TV stars Gobsmacked Nathan Aspinall was left aghast at darts' rock n'roll status after stealing the limelight from actors and football icons James Maddison and John Terry. And the Stockport slinger has urged chiefs to keep the characters in the game or face turning the sport's new-breed of stars into boring robots. Aspinall feels there's an obsession with darts after his latest experiences at Spurs star Maddison's recent charity golf day. He teed it up with celebrities prior to Premier League Finals night and was taken aback at the attention he received amid footballing legends and TV faces. Aspinall said: 'Everyone is obsessed with darts. I was at this golf day and everyone wanted to talk to me about darts. I'm looking around, all these footballers and actors and stuff. Everyone was speaking to me. 'Oh my god, John Terry shot four under gross. And he plays off five. Nine under. So no-one had a chance. 45 points he got. I played off 12 and I shot 34 points. Honestly, all of them came over to me, it was quite surreal. Everyone loves darts. Whatever you are a celebrity, own a company, from a council estate, whether you are a kid. Woman, male, everyone is obsessed with darts at the moment. We all know we owe a lot of it to Luke [Littler]. But also the rest of the guys that turn out week-in, week-out. 'It was a brilliant day. Lots of people: Nice to meet you. It was good. I played half decent. Only the second round I played. Because I have had all these injuries, so not been able to play golf for 18 months, two years, but really enjoyed myself yesterday. Joe Cullen played. Littler doesn't play. [Luke] Humphries plays and he got asked to play in it but he didn't want to risk injuring myself. Whereas I couldn't give a s**t. I went and enjoyed myself. Maddison was there. He was supposed to be at the hospital but he said he would try to change it and come [to Premier League Finals]. I got all the support from all the lads. It was nice to have them in your corner.' Aspinall is a character of the game and he hopes darts keeps such traits within their future heroes as he expanded: 'This is the problem they are going to have. You see it with footballers when they do their interviews, they are robots. They get told what to say and they are all the same answers all the time. 'I think people like myself, I just say as it is. It gets me in trouble a lot of time. I have had no media training earlier in my career. I was thrown into the deep end. I don't want darts to get that to level because you do need those characters in the game. If everyone turns up and they are all the same, they all throw the same, no-one celebrates, do the interviews the same, it would get boring. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Come to my exhibitions what is not boring.' Aspinall is savouring life at the top, but has an age for quitting as he said: '45 I am off. Skint or not. I have said to my partner, that is my aim: 45. If it is earlier than that, we start making golfer's money and I have £30 million in the bank, happy days. I will be off sooner. 'I don't think it can happen that quickly in my era, but 45 is when I would like to bugger off. I am not as obsessed as the other lads with darts. I don't watch it. I don't particularly like it. It's my job. I am a darts fan. 'This is why I got into the game but generally speaking now, I don't watch it. I get bored when I practise. 'When I get a bit fed up and bored, that is when I take a break. I find it repetitive simple as that. I spend my whole life throwing three pieces of metal at the same target for seven hours a day. It does get a bit boring. 'If I retire at 45, I will hopefully sell my house, get a nice villa abroad and open up a bar. That is my plan. No dartboard! A golf simulator. No Mr Brightside. That is not on my Spotify list anyway. I took that off it. That cannot come on in the car.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
European Darts Open LIVE RESULTS: Tournament on NOW as Van Barneveld crashes OUT, Bunting and Aspinall wait
THE EUROPEAN Darts Open is here live from Leverkusen - and there has been a shock early exit! Four-time PDC World Cup of Darts winner Raymond van Barneveld went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Andreas Harryson. Stephen Bunting enters as the No 1 seed and is joined by Premier League Darts semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall. Prem winner Luke Humphries and runner-up Luke Littler are both not featuring in the tournament. While Michael van Gerwen is also absent as he takes a break from the sport following his split from wife Daphne. Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
