Nathan Aspinall has certainly returned to his best form in 2022, re-entering the top 10 on the PDC Order of Merit with two Pro Tour wins to his name and two Runner’s Up finishes in the World Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts.
The Asp’s last match on the Alexandra Palace stage was a crushing 4-0 whitewash defeat to youngster Callan Rydz in the Last 32.
Hampered by injury Aspinall spent much of the first half of this year under treatment, rest or rehabilitation. Only since the Autumn has he looked like the player who reached a Premier League Final.
The World Number 10 will get his Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship campaign underway on Sunday night, as he goes up against Boris Krcmar in a difficult Second Round draw.
The big Croatian has always been a threat on the PDC Pro Tour/ Euro Tour and has already appeared in this year’s competition after beating Japan’s Toru Suzuki 3-0 in the First Round.
Aspinall however will be full of confidence as he prepares to take to the world stage once more, having reached the Semi Finals at the Ally Pally on two occasions.
The former UK Open champion lost out to Michael van Gerwen in the 2020 World Darts Championship in his second consecutive semi, having lost to Michael Smith at the same stage the year before.
The Stockport man averaged 97.18 to beat Krzysztof Ratajski 8-3 in the Final of Players Championship 22 at the Barnsley Metrodome, a week before taking out King of the Euro Tour Luke Humphries 10-5 in the World Matchplay.
The Englishman lost out recently to Michael Smith in the Final of the Grand Slam of Darts, but the quality shown from the Asp was nothing short of exceptional at Aldersley Leisure Village, beating Cool Hand in the Semi Finals.
Aspinall is ranked as the number 10 seed for this year’s World Championship and could potentially face Jonny Clayton in the Last 16, should both players make it through their earlier matches at the Alexandra Palace.
Day 4’s evening session gets underway from 8pm live on Sky Sports, with another Players Championship winner in Scott Williams making his debut on the world stage against former Quarter Finalist Ryan Joyce.
2023 World Darts Championship: Day 4 Evening Session Order of Play
Round 1:
Mike de Decker v Jeff Smith
Scott Williams v Ryan Joyce
Matt Campbell v Danny Baggish
Round 2:
Nathan Aspinall (10) v Boris Krcmar
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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