German Darts Grand Prix: Aspinall Goes Fourth and Seals Munich Crown

The honour of being crowned the 2026 German Darts Grand Prix champion was bestowed upon two-time PDC major winner Nathan Aspinall, who secured yet another Euro Tour title – this time at the expense of Danny Noppert.

For The Asp, his continental trophy collection now ascends to four – all amassed within a remarkably condensed timeframe of just over a year, and, intriguingly, all on German soil.

For Noppie, however, the number four assumes a far less palatable connotation, representing a quartet of Euro Tour final defeats.

The Mancunian may well now regard airport queues as his most formidable adversary, once again being subjected to laborious and seemingly interminable delays. In the immediate aftermath, though, with silverware in hand and a £35,000 cheque securely tucked away, such inconveniences will feel decidedly trivial.

Commencing his campaign on finals night, Aspinall eventually navigated past the obdurate resistance of Andrew Gilding. Despite registering an average markedly superior to that of Goldfinger, the 55-year-old exhibited commendable tenacity, clinging resolutely to contention.

Ultimately, however, it was the younger of the two English protagonists who asserted his authority when it mattered most.

Awaiting The Asp in the semi-final was a player venturing into entirely unfamiliar territory.Kevin Doets, who prior to this event had never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage, is rapidly establishing himself as a burgeoning force. His narrative throughout the tournament had been one of resilience and recovery, repeatedly extricating himself from precarious positions.

Once again, Hawkeye demonstrated admirable fortitude, battling back to edge close friend Niels Zonneveld in their last-eight encounter and advance into uncharted waters.Unfortunately for the young Dutchman, his journey was emphatically curtailed by Aspinall, who delivered a performance of imperious quality.

Trailing 6-1, even Doets’ penchant for improbable comebacks proved insufficient against an opponent who concluded proceedings with a sublime average just north of 106.

In the opposite half of the draw, Noppert progressed with relative serenity past a Jonny Clayton who endured a torrid time on the doubles. The Freeze himself was far from exemplary on the outer ring, converting fewer than a third of his attempts. However, this paled into insignificance when contrasted with the Welshman’s profligacy of one from thirteen.

It was hardly a spectacle for the purists, but for Noppert, efficiency of outcome outweighed aesthetic considerations.To secure his place in the final, Noppert once again advanced with authority, dispatching Krzysztof Ratajski.

Earlier in the evening, the Pole had eliminated Michael Smith, thereby ensuring the inevitability of a new name being inscribed onto the tournament’s roll of honour. Had Ratajski’s finishing mirrored his scoring, the result may have unfolded differently. It did not, and Noppie progressed to set up a compelling showdown between two former UK Open champions.

In a strikingly familiar pattern to his semi-final triumph over Doets, The Asp exploded out of the blocks, surging into a commanding 4-1 lead before momentarily succumbing to an inexplicable bout of doubling amnesia.

Noppert, ever the opportunist, required no second invitation, clinically capitalising to restore parity and edge ahead.

Yet from 5-4 down, Aspinall recalibrated with emphatic authority, reeling off four consecutive legs for the second time in the match to clinch the title.Only a week prior, Aspinall had candidly admitted to a waning affection for the sport – perhaps exacerbated by those aforementioned airport tribulations.

However, for a player who began 2025 without a single Euro Tour title to his name, now possessing four, this latest triumph may well serve as a powerful catalyst in rekindling that passion.

2026 GERMAN DARTS GRAND PRIX (EVENT FOUR)

Munich, Germany (4-6 April)

Monday Afternoon Session – Round Three

Danny Noppert 6-2 Karel Sedlacek

Jonny Clayton 6-4 Kim Huybrechts

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Ross Smith

Michael Smith 6-4 Niko Springer

Niels Zonnerveld 6-5 Josh Rock

Kevin Doets 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Martin Schindler

William O’Connor v Andrew Gilding

Quarter-Finals