Aspinall promises to work his ball off to get Premier League Return After Brilliant Dortmund Display

Nathan Aspinall has set his sights on reclaiming a Premier League Darts spot after producing a dominant performance in his European Championship opener, sweeping aside Rob Cross 6–1 on Friday night in Dortmund.

The top seed looked sharp and confident from the first dart, averaging 100.53, hitting four maximums, and finishing at nearly 43% on his doubles. The victory capped off a sensational fortnight for the Stockport star, who arrived in Germany buoyed by his third European Tour title of the season in Hildesheim.

Aspinall dropped the opening leg but immediately took control, reeling off six in succession to complete the match in just over 13 minutes — a display full of aggression, rhythm, and self-belief. It was a statement win from a player who says he’s rediscovered the hunger that once made him one of the sport’s fiercest competitors.

“Yeah, you know, obviously I’m still on cloud nine from the weekend,” he said afterwards. “I’ve had a fantastic eight or nine days on the oche, and it’s nice to be smiling again. I just feel great.”

Coming into Dortmund as the number one seed, Aspinall said he relished the challenge rather than feeling pressure. “I finished number one, and I wanted to win this weekend because I wanted to be the number one seed,” he explained. “Everyone makes a big thing about how the top seed has gone out early the last two or three years. I don’t think like that. For my own confidence, I wanted that top spot – which I got. Even after going 1–0 down, I knew I was playing well enough to beat Rob at the moment. So yeah, very happy.”

When asked about the so-called “curse” of the top seed, Aspinall didn’t hold back. “The thing is, with the rankings and the Order of Merit and all that, we as players don’t care. It’s the journalists, the press, Sky… you know, Luke Humphries is sick to death of people asking about being number one. Of course Luke Littler’s going to be number one eventually – that’s the story, we get it.”

“Everyone’s been talking about how I’ve dropped out of the top 16. Yeah, it happens. But I know I’ll be back up there,” he continued with a smile. “I keep bollocking my grandad because he’s always saying, ‘Oh Nathan, you need to get back up there.’ And I’m like, ‘I will. Chill out.’”

Aspinall promises to work his ball off to get Premier League Return After Brilliant Dortmund Display

The subject then turned to the Premier League — the elite, invitation-only event Aspinall is desperate to rejoin. “You know what? I don’t actually want to play in it next year,” he laughed, before quickly correcting himself. “No, seriously, I know what I’ve got to do. The European Tour has helped massively this year. I didn’t defend the Matchplay, I want the Premier League, and yeah, I want the World Series, I want to play the first edition in Saudi Arabia. I want to play in everything. But it’s down to me.”

“I know I’ll get the backing of the PDC, but I’ve got to prove myself worthy of that spot,” he added. “Right now, honestly, I don’t think I deserve it yet. I’m not far off, though. I don’t think many players have done more than me this year, but I’m not in that top eight yet. I reckon I’m a couple of places away, but I’ll work my balls off to make it impossible for them not to pick me. If it doesn’t happen this year, then whatever. The Premier League is the highlight of my season, and I’ll do what I can. But first things first – let’s go and win this tournament.”

Aspinall, already a multiple European Tour champion this season, remains convinced that a major TV title is within reach.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “Whether it’s this weekend, the Grand Slam, the Players Championship Finals, or the big one – I do feel like I’m going to win one of the four this year. You’ve got to have that belief. If you don’t believe, what’s the point of turning up? I’ve found a new lease of confidence over the last ten days. I haven’t felt like this since probably the Matchplay. I feel great, I feel confident, and there’s no reason why I can’t win another tournament. Hopefully it’s this one.”

Asked whether the “fear factor” had returned to his game, Aspinall grinned. “I’ll let you ask the other players that,” he replied. “But I know the answer. They don’t want to play me when I’m in this mood.”

He also addressed recent headlines about parting ways with long-time manager Martin Foulds, emphasising that the decision was mutual and amicable.

“I’ve been with Martin for eight years, and when I put my post out about why we split, I meant it from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “I thank Martin so much. I’m very good friends with him and love him to bits. It was an amicable split – he didn’t want to carry on managing further down the line, and I made the decision to part ways. I’m not going to say a bad word about him. He’s been an unbelievable friend and manager, and I can’t thank him enough. But careers move on, life moves on, and it was the right call for both of us.”

For now, Aspinall’s focus remains on the European Championship — and if his opening night in Dortmund is any indication, the “Asp” is very much back to his best.