Nathan Aspinall secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Leonard Gates at the World Darts Championship, but the path to the third round wasn’t without a startling prelude.
The usually unflappable Aspinall confessed to a moment of genuine fear during a practice session, a story that quickly became the talk of Alexandra Palace.
It began innocently enough – a tap on the back. But when Aspinall turned around, he was confronted by the towering, furry visage of Chewbacca, courtesy of his opponent, Leonard Gates.
“Honest to God, I can’t say it, but I pooed my pants,” Aspinall admitted with a laugh, describing his initial shock. “I was a bit scared. He is a great guy, but it was terrifying.”
The bizarre encounter didn’t end with the initial ambush. Gates continued his practice, still clad in the Chewbacca mask, relentlessly throwing darts. Aspinall was left questioning if he’d wandered onto the set of a science fiction film.
Gates had foreshadowed his unconventional tactics after winning his first-round match, promising to “shadow” Aspinall and generally disrupt his focus. He clearly intended to make his presence known.
Despite the pre-match antics, Aspinall ultimately dominated the game, averaging 91.76 to achieve a clean sweep. However, he acknowledged a slight frustration with his performance, aiming to elevate his game after the Christmas break.
Next up for Aspinall is Kevin Doets, a Dutchman who has also impressed in the early stages of the tournament. Aspinall admits Doets has been playfully needling him, aware of a past record favoring the Dutch player.
“He’s been talking to me in the hotel!” Aspinall revealed with a smile. “I’ll enjoy my Christmas now with my family and I’ll come back and put a show on for these guys because they deserve it.”
The atmosphere at Alexandra Palace continues to electrify, and Aspinall is eager to deliver a performance worthy of the enthusiastic crowd, promising a thrilling match against Doets.
The tournament continues with a packed schedule on December 23rd, featuring matches between Jonny Tata and Ryan Meikle, Daryl Gurney and Callan Rydz, and a highly anticipated clash between Peter Wright and Arno Merk.
Later in the evening, fans can expect exciting contests including Danny Noppert versus Justin Hood, Gary Anderson against Connor Scutt, and a showdown between Michael van Gerwen and William O’Connor.
The day will conclude with Josh Rock taking on Joe Comito, promising a full day of captivating darts action for fans both in the arena and watching from home.
