With all the attention being paid to defending champion Luke Littler, two-time PDC major winner Nathan Aspinall heads to the O2 tonight with one eye on the title and the other possibly on the physio's coach. Aspinall's remarkable knack of battling to unlikely victories, and overcoming injury, put one in mind of those fabulous 'Chuck Norris is so tough...' memes and videos.
Believe it or not, this is The Asp‘s first visit to the iconic London venue for the Premier League play-offs – despite having reached this stage twice before.
COVID had other ideas back then, moving the darting drama to silent arena in Coventry and Milton Keynes.
But, even more impressive than his overdue O2 debut is the fact he’s here at all. The Stockport slinger has had more comebacks than a boyband reunion tour, most notably from a career-threatening run-in with dartitis – the sport’s equivalent of your arm turning into a stubborn, petulant teenager who just won’t cooperate.
He went public with his struggle in 2023, calling it the dreaded D-word. Since then, Aspinall has spent more time on the injury table than the oche:
- Wrist Injury (2024): Persistent pain saw him sidelined for much of the year, though he still managed to win two Premier League nights. Because of course he did.
- Elbow Trouble (2024): A tennis elbow-style condition, forced him out of the World Series Finals. He had been due a break anyway – but ideally one that didn’t involve body parts.
- Shoulder Dislocation (2025): Sustained in Rosmalen, of all places. Did he rest? No. He beat Gerwyn Price and reached the semis. Because Nathan Aspinall doesn’t know how to quit.
He’s also added silverware in the form of the 2025 European Darts Trophy – his first European Tour title and, in his own words, probably my proudest moment. This from a man who’s won the World Matchplay, UK Open and made back-to-back Premier League finals nights. Not bad for someone who’s had more joint issues than a reggae band.
All of which makes his charge toward Premier League glory tonight nothing short of astonishing. The man is basically held together by tape, grit, and a pathological refusal to lose.
And here he is again, ready to scrap with the best. While Luke Humphries just needs to hit ten legs before his fellow Englishman does, Cool Hand knows full well: until that last double sinks, Nathan is never beaten. After all, we are referring to the Chuck Norris of the ophidian world here.
Whatever happens tonight, with four of the finest of their generation stepping up to the oche, expect fireworks. The darts will be sharp, the finishing clinical, and the tension thick enough to cut with a broken tungsten tip.
One thing’s certain: the O2 is fully prepared for the drama it’s about to host. As for who’ll emerge victorious? Flip a coin. Then flip it a few more times.
2025 BetMGM Premier League
Play-Offs, London, The O2
Thursday May 29
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall
Best of 19 legs
Final
Littler/Price v Humphries/Aspinall
Best of 21 legs
Words: Paul Woodgae