The Asp eyes World Championship crown

Nathan Aspinall believes he has the ‘biggest chance he’s ever had’ to pick up darts’ most illustrious prize. 

The Asp kicks off his 2025/26 World Darts Championship campaign later this week, and has his eyes set on going all the way. 

“I don’t play in tournaments to take the last 16 or last eight, I want to win,” the Glossop resident told the Chronicle. 

“Going into this year, I feel the most prepared I’ve ever been, and the best version of myself. 

“I’ve probably got the biggest chance I’ve ever had in my career to pick the big one up this year. 

“Ultimately, I want to win it, I’m not there to make the numbers up. 

“I think I’m one of about six or seven that realistically have a chance at winning it, and that’s what I plan to do.” 

The 34-year-old has already has a taste of major success, having won the UK Open in 2019 and the World Matchplay in 2023, but admits winning the World Championship would eclipse anything he has achieved so far. 

“It’d mean everything. I’ve won a couple of majors, and countless other tournaments, but to be a world champion would be unbelievable. 

“And I don’t see any reason why I can’t be; I will take some stopping.” 

The Stockport born star will take to the Ally Pally stage this Friday for his clash with The Philippines’ Lourence Ilagan, and acknowledges a win is far from guaranteed. 

“He’s a good player, he’s no mug,” said Aspinall. 

“He can play darts, and he’s been around for a long time – he's probably played at Ally Pally more than me. 

“But I do believe I’ll have too much for him.” 

Should the Dinting resident progress, he would face the winner of Micky Mansell and Leonard Gates in round two. 

The potential matchup would take place just three days after his first-round tie, which Aspinall believes could play into his hands. 

“I don’t like big gaps in-between games,” revealed The Asp. 

“You might play really well, and all of a sudden, you’ve got eight days off, and it’s like ‘what do I do?’.” 

“Do I practice, do I not practice? But because of the way it’s fallen, it’d feel like a normal tournament for me, I’d have two days off and be back playing again.” 

If the two-time semi-finalist were to go even further, he could set up a mouthwatering last 16 tie with 2024 champion – and world number two – Luke Humphries. 

“You’ve got to be realistic, Luke [Humphries] and Luke [Littler] are leaps above the rest of us when they’re on it. 

“The only way you beat them is knocking them out early, you don’t want to go toe to toe with them in a best of 13 sets. 

“So I’m happy with potentially playing Humphries in the last 16, I think it will be a best of seven then, and I know I can live with him for that period.” 

The current world number 15 goes into the World Championship in good form, having reached the final of the Players Championship last month before narrowly losing to world number one Luke Littler, which could provide him with an added boost. 

“In previous years I’ve not been that bothered about that tournament, I’ve always seen it as an inconvenience,” admitted Aspinall. 

“But this year I took a different approach, I wanted to show myself and the rest of the players that I’m playing well and mean business. 

“It was a great tournament for myself. Beating Josh Rock and Danny Noppert were the big things I took away from that weekend, that showed me and everyone else where my game is at. 

“That’s the thing for me, if I finish well, I’m very tough to beat.  

“Unfortunately, I have a tendency to miss a lot of doubles, but I didn’t that weekend.” 

A strong tournament in the capital could also aid the 34-year-old's hopes of earning a place in next year’s Premier League, as he looks to make a fourth consecutive appearance. 

“I’ve helped myself massively by making that final, and I think I’ve got a good chance of being in it anyway, irrelevant of the World Championship, so I’m not gonna put any added pressure on myself. 

“I’m not even worrying about the prem, it is what it is. If I’m in it, great, if not, I’ll spend more time at home with my kids.” 

While The Asp’s ultimate aim is to lift the coveted Sid Waddell trophy, he will also be hoping he has saved his first ever televised nine-darter for the biggest stage, having hit two on the floor in the same day earlier this year. 

“My 180 hitting has been ridiculous over the last few months, and when you’re hitting 180’s, you always give yourself a chance,” Aspinall told the Chronicle. 

“Why not? It’d be nice to save it for the big one, but it’s one leg, and more importantly, I just want to win my games and lift that trophy. 

“I’m not bringing it back to Stockport now am I, I’ll be bringing it home to Glossop," he joked.

"We'll have a party in the Howard Arms when I win.”