Nathan Aspinall has admitted that he pushed himself a little too hard off the oche while preparing for the Saudi Darts Masters. The English darts star has been competing in the Middle East and arrived in Riyadh after a strong showing at the Bahrain Darts Masters. There, Aspinall reached the semi-finals before losing 7-4 to Gian van Veen. Despite the loss, his form has remained sharp.
The 34-year-old returned to action in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night and produced an impressive performance. Aspinall defeated Lourence Ilagan 6-1 in the first round, recording an average of 100.93. While his darts were on fire, the conditions off the stage were just as intense, with hot weather playing its part in his preparation.
Nathan Aspinall opens up about being sun-soaked ahead of Saudi Darts Masters quarter-final
After his dominant win over Ilagan, Nathan Aspinall joked that the weather had been just as challenging as his opponent. He explained that temperatures were around 25 degrees and that he had not played competitively since Bahrain. After arriving in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, he spent time relaxing by the pool instead of practicing.
Aspinall said the sunny conditions were enjoyable but admitted he stayed out too long.
He shared that his skin showed clear signs of spending too much time in the sun. According to him, this was his first visit to Saudi Arabia, and he fully embraced the warm weather, perhaps a bit too much.
The Stockport-based player went on to admit that this is something he often does. He explained that whenever he goes on holiday, he tends to overdo it on the very first day. He said he ended up feeling extremely hot and sunburnt, even joking that he had given himself mild sunstroke. Despite that, he added that he planned to be back by the pool again the following day.
On the sporting side, Aspinall now turns his attention to the quarter-finals. He will face Man Lok Leung, who caused a surprise by beating Danny Noppert 6-3. It will be a tough test, but Aspinall’s recent form suggests he is ready.
There is also plenty at stake. The winner of the quarter-final match is guaranteed at least $10,000 for reaching the semi-finals. The player who loses will still earn $5,000 for making the last eight. The overall winner of the Saudi Darts Masters will take home a top prize of $30,000, adding extra motivation for Aspinall as he continues his run in Riyadh.